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http://www.kezrush.com/2008/07/corny-4th.html

Selah eating corn on the 4th.

http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/2008/07/on-independence-

When I was growing up, American Independence Day was always a big day. Perhaps it was being reared in a union, working class, Irish family, but I have two memories of that day. First, we celebrated America. And second, there was a lot of drinking. Needless to say, there was much volume to the celebration and the fireworks were especially dangerous.

Donna, my wife, is actually Canadian by birth and a naturalized citizen. So, growing up, she did not experience all the Stars and Stripes celebrations. (Canadians have Canada Day, which is good and fine, but lacks the punch.) The Canadian equivalent of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" is "peace, order, and good government." It's not nearly as exciting. So, I have to explain to her why large amounts of explosives are so essential. No explanation is necessary for the girls... they just love the explosions.

Well, today, we will think of our freedom and spend time with our family. While on the subject, let me direct you to Denny Burk's post on Lincoln's second inaugural address and Mark Batterson's on the 56 original signers of the Declaration of Independence.

And, it is always good to read the Declaration... click here to do so.

Have a great Independence Day.

http://dualravens.com/ravens/?p=223

Ever since my post on missional I’ve been neglecting the running commentary that is the Ravens. Been distracted. A mission, so to speak.

I’m going to continue being distracted from written commentary until next Thursday, so hold on, I’ve things brewing in my head but haven’t quite gotten the focus to get them down. Unless, of course, inspiration strikes and I just gotta write it down.

Have a wonderful, happy, joyous 4th of July!!

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DreamAwakener/~3/326511242/this-week

http://tallskinnykiwi.typepad.com/tallskinnykiwi/2008/07/punting-in-oxfo.

Just punting down the river in our little punt. Nothing like a bit of PUNTING in Oxford on a nice summers day, especially when we were stuck inside all day in meetings with the Church Mission Society. I found out that the people in Oxford punt from the back, with the till forward, and Cambridge folk from the front while standing on the till, and one must never get it mixed up while punting in Oxford or it will result in a severe taunting by people in preppy cardigans. However, Wikipedia says that "the Oxford position is closest to the orthodox". Better stop there before I start a war. The first picture is me punting from the back, as one does while in Oxford, and Mark Berry getting splashed while he steers with the paddle.

http://www.kezrush.com/2008/07/sondra-graduation-photos.html

http://www.kezrush.com/2008/07/grace-based-parenting_8510.html

http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/2008/07/more-on-the-pew-

Terry Mattingly of the Scripps Howard News Service and the GetReligion.org blog adds more helpful information about the Pew study related to our recent release, "Are Evangelicals Really Universalists?" Read his synidcated column here and his blog on the subject.

Today I had the privilege of taking a friend to his fathers funeral.  He didn't know his father well and in many ways I feel like I am fathering him. Josh is one of the most loving people I know.  He has his challenges just like most of us, some would say more than his far share.  Today we talked about how we serve each other, most of the time by just being with each other.  Being with each other in the high and lows of life.  Being there to serve, love and support each other.  Today I thought I would be serving Josh, but in many ways he has helped me see I need him too.

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/missionalchallenge/~3/326091004/disc

Often when I ask Christians if they know anyone that needs to be discipled they think of a new Christian. Somehow in America we have adopted the idea that "discipleship" is for new believers. The idea is often associated with "follow-up" of new Christians.

However, when Jesus said, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations" He wasn't telling His closest followers to go find new followers and help them become better followers. He was telling them to go after those who were not yet His followers. He was telling them to be "fishers of men."

If we are going to see movements of transformation it will only happen as we make disciples of non-disciples!

How do you make a disciple? You go to somebody who isn’t one. You win them to Jesus Christ and you teach them all things “whatsoever I have commanded.” You build them in the Word. That’s the job all of us have. - Dr. John MacArthur

Any thoughts?