Category: Uncategorized

The Jiminy Cricket of All Author Signings

Just had mKingdomy first author signing a couple of weeks ago for The Kingdom According to Jesus. I shared the CrossBooks booth at the Southern Baptist Convention with other first-time authors and enjoyed their company. Not so much the deafening silence resulting from a lack of customer traffic. In 45 minutes, I witnessed one guy and his son double team to steal a display copy from the booth (hey, at least they chose my book for the five-finger discount), and one kindly gentleman mercifully stopped by to ask for an autograph and directions to the cash register. So I guess the day was a wash: one sale and one write-off for shrinkage. Wish I had video or a photo of the experience to share with you … but maybe this sound bite will give you a sense of what it’s like to lead the charmed life of a published author.

Apologetics 101 at Brentwood Baptist

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Just a reminder to join us July 25 for Apologetics 101: Learning to Defend the Christian Faith. This workshop will be held from 8 a.m. – noon at Brentwood Baptist Church and will feature four sessions: 1) What is apologetics? 2) How do I know the Bible is true? 3) Who’s the real Jesus? And 4) How can I counter false teachings? There is no charge but attendees are asked to register online.

Apologetics Workshop Coming to Brentwood Baptist

BibleNewsweek magazine recently reported that “the Christian God … is less of a force in American politics and culture than at any other time in recent memory.” Christianity, it seems, is weathering unprecedented attacks from outside the church. Yet there’s evidence it also is crumbling from within as many Christians, impacted by Western culture, prefer emotional experience and entertainment to sound doctrine. For Christians, there has never been a more important time to know what we believe, why we believe, and how to share our faith with an increasingly skeptical – and lost – world.

Apologetics 101 provides a basis for learning to defend the Christian faith. This introductory workshop at Brentwood Baptist Church will feature four sessions: 1) What is apologetics? 2) How do I know the Bible is true? 3) Who’s the real Jesus? And 4) How can I counter false teachings? The workshop will be held from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, July 25, in the Connection Center Room 2010. The café will be open at 7:30 a.m. and offer lunch at noon. Facilitating the workshop is Rob Phillips, an apologetics instructor certified by the North American Mission Board.

Be Ready Always

bibleMany thanks to Pastor Paul Rummage and the people of Bartlesville (Okla.) Southern Baptist Church for hosting “Be Ready Always: An Apologetics Workshop” May 2-3. I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to return to my “home church” where 25 years ago the people there loved me into the kingdom of heaven and gave me the privilege to serve as deacon and associate pastor. Great attendance for all five sessions — a clear marker of the church’s spiritual depth and evangelistic heart.

For those unable to attend, I am attaching the workbook of supplementary materials. Special thanks to Debbie Strobel for building the workbooks; to Mike and Vickie Benzin for their hospitality (and introducing me to NHL hockey in high-definition TV); to Paula Young for the photographs; and to everyone who invested their time in a weekend of in-depth study. May the Lord bless you all!

Jesus in the Feasts of Israel

The Jewish celebration of Passover begins today [April 8] at sundown and is the first of seven major feasts. The feasts of Israel are religious celebrations remembering God’s great acts of salvation in the history of His people. The term “feasts” in Hebrew literally means “appointed times” and in Scripture the feasts often are called “holy convocations.” They are times God has appointed for holy purposes.

While there are many religious celebrations in Jewish history and custom, seven are most significant: Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Pentecost, Trumpets, Day of Atonement and Tabernacles. God established the timing and sequence of these feasts to reveal to us a special story — the work of the Messiah in the redemption of mankind and the establishment of His kingdom on earth.

To learn more, click here or download a free study.