Danny Wahlquist Blogger Blog

2012-02-18T13:07:00.001-05:00

7 Practical Ways Organizations Can Leverage Social Media http://ping.fm/WkuMP

2012-02-18T06:11:00.001-05:00

Pray Today -February 18: Argentina

http://ping.fm/ytJYx

2012-02-17T10:24:00.001-05:00

Success Plan 2012 – Part 2: Protect Your Job and Boost Your Employability http://ping.fm/hROEW

2012-02-17T09:56:00.001-05:00

2012 the year of social business and shared value http://ping.fm/ZTktU

2012-02-17T09:02:00.001-05:00

Finally, Chrome Has Come to Android http://ping.fm/yzUpQ

2012-02-17T05:41:00.001-05:00

Pray Today -February 17: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda

http://ping.fm/cBZdU

2012-02-16T15:20:00.001-05:00

NYC Churches Get Another Two Sundays in Schools http://ping.fm/P0ooi

2012-02-16T06:59:00.001-05:00

Pray Today -February 16: Angola

http://ping.fm/e0vMn

Infographic: 5 companies that are "rocking" social media - The space between @ & www

2012-02-15T11:47:00.001-05:00

Here's a clever infographic produced by Voltier Digital that pays homage to some of the top companies using social media to improve customer (and employee) relationships and experiences. In one graphic, we explore customer service, PR, listening, collaboration and entertainment featuring examples from Dell, Morton's, Unisys, KLM, and ABC.

While it's a mere glimpse into what's possible, it should serve as inspiration to expand the ways "your" company could use social media beyond marketing and community building.

via briansolis.posterous.com

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

2012-02-15T08:12:00.001-05:00

Mobile Apps vs. Sites http://ping.fm/XFia2

2012-02-14T10:52:00.001-05:00

50 yrs ago this fall I met the most wonderful & influencial woman in my life. Happy Valentines Day Sarah!

2012-02-14T07:32:00.001-05:00

Pray Today -February 15: Angola

http://ping.fm/HU6J6

2012-02-13T11:36:00.001-05:00

The Power of Advanced Segments http://ping.fm/YPtRM

2012-02-13T09:44:00.001-05:00

3 Ways to Reinvent Yourself on LinkedIn http://ping.fm/c7Qg9

2012-02-13T09:13:00.001-05:00

Follow the yellow brick road: Hospitals in search of the Wizard http://ping.fm/9r9Yo

2012-02-13T05:32:00.001-05:00

Pray Today -February 13: Algeria

http://ping.fm/E76SN

2012-02-12T13:34:00.001-05:00

Richmond Eagle Cam http://ping.fm/jDiii

2012-02-12T06:05:00.001-05:00

Pray Today -February 12: Algeria

http://ping.fm/whcyk

2012-02-11T05:42:00.001-05:00

Pray Today -February 11: Albania

http://ping.fm/aZXGN

2012-02-10T06:36:00.001-05:00

Pray Today -February 10: Afghanistan

http://ping.fm/GjqK7

2012-02-09T17:03:00.001-05:00

How to Get Pastries for Almost Free http://ping.fm/CAT2f

2012-02-09T11:41:00.001-05:00

Will Honeywell Absorb Tridium? http://ping.fm/JXSo2

2012-02-09T11:37:00.001-05:00

Share With Intents http://ping.fm/tzcFO

2012-02-09T06:16:00.001-05:00

Pray Today -February 9: Afghanistan

http://ping.fm/OswmV

2012-02-08T15:21:00.001-05:00

Pinterest Drives more Traffic than LinkedIn and Google Plus http://ping.fm/XG7E1

2012-02-08T15:10:00.001-05:00

Foursquare announces their city badge contest winners http://ping.fm/RZdwO

2012-02-08T09:44:00.001-05:00

Introducing Chrome for Android http://ping.fm/IBmSL

2012-02-08T07:35:00.001-05:00

Does Your Church Start with Why? http://ping.fm/IIaxA

2012-02-08T06:56:00.001-05:00

This One Thing: In this session, Andy explores the question every leader should answer http://ping.fm/M10a9

2012-02-07T07:37:00.001-05:00

All About Millennials [Infographic] http://ping.fm/rXDFX

2012-02-07T07:21:00.001-05:00

Memorial Service Video http://ping.fm/cQgY3

2012-02-07T07:06:00.001-05:00

Pray Today - February 7: Hot Spots in the Pacific, Pacific http://ping.fm/Mcxc2

2012-02-06T14:33:00.001-05:00

All Hail the Stand-Up Meeting! http://ping.fm/6lqPf

2012-02-06T12:40:00.001-05:00

Geographically Distributed Agile Teams Have Choices for Their Lifecycles http://ping.fm/Bo7nN

Does God Care Whether Tim Tebow Wins on Saturday?

2012-01-14T13:34:00.003-05:00

"Martin Luther, the Tim Tebow of his day (the Pope said he was "like a bull in the church's vineyard," an apt description for Tebow's running style)" http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2012/01/does-god-care-whether-tim-tebow-wins-on-saturday/251273/

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

Does God Care Whether Tim Tebow Wins on Saturday?

2012-01-14T13:34:00.001-05:00

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

10 programming languages that could shake up IT | Application Development - InfoWorld

2012-01-09T07:19:00.001-05:00

Experimental programming language No. 6: Fantom
Should you develop your applications for Java or .Net? If you code in Fantom, you can take your pick and even switch platforms midstream. That's because Fantom is designed from the ground up for cross-platform portability. The Fantom project includes not just a compiler that can output bytecode for either the JVM or the .Net CLI, but also a set of APIs that abstract away the Java and .Net APIs, creating an additional portability layer.

via infoworld.com

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

Are You Operating in Your Strengths Zone? | Michael Hyatt

2012-01-08T06:52:00.001-05:00

If you really want to develop a strengths-based culture, have your entire team (even your family) take the test and then discuss how you can get everyone focused on their strengths. You can even use this as a basis for recruiting people with strengths you may be missing. In the end, you and your team will be more productive and more happy.

via michaelhyatt.com

My first test using the Now Discover Your Strengths was Learner, Achiever, Maximizer, Responsibility and Relator. My second test from Strengthsfinder 2.0 was Learner, Achiever, Input, Strategic and Individualization.

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

Daily Weather Forecast for Richmond, VA (23238) - weather.com

2011-12-27T18:45:00.001-05:00

Day Night

Scattered Snow Showers High
49.0°
Precip
60%

Wind: From WNW at 9.0

Humidity: 66%

UV Index: 2 Low

Sunrise: 7:25 AM ET

Avg. High: 47.0°

Record High: 74.0° (2000)

Snow Shower Overnight Low
30.0°
Precip
60%

Wind: From WSW at 3.0

Humidity: 69%

Sunset: 5:04 PM ET

Avg. Low: 29.0°

Record Low: 7.0° (1918)

via weather.com

Can't wait!

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

Libbie & Grove Sweet Frog Awaiting City Permits ‹ Near West End News

2011-12-22T18:23:00.001-05:00

Sign on the door of Sweet Frog Frozen Yogurt on Libbie Avenue today:

via nearwestendnews.net

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

The Skill of Deep Reading Versus Scanning

2011-12-15T05:53:00.001-05:00

"Like a marathon runner who can’t bench-press three hundred pounds, or a person who can bench-press three hundred pounds but can’t run a marathon, we seem to cultivate either the skill of deep reading or the skill of scanning. It’s possible to do both, but it is difficult to maintain both abilities."

Google’s then CEO Eric Schmidt ”I worry that the level of interrupt, the sort of overwhelming rapidity of information—and especially of stressful information—is in fact affecting cognition. It is in fact affecting deeper thinking. I still believe that sitting down and reading a book is the best way to really learn something. And I worry that we’re losing that.”

from From the Garden to the City by John Dyer

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

Applying the Hedgehog Principle to Church Communications | TonyMorganLive.com

2011-12-04T07:55:00.001-05:00

Many organizations spend lots of energy chasing too many ideas and initiatives. The great ones know how to say “no” to the good stuff and focus on the ONE thing they’re really great at.

via tonymorganlive.com

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

Joiy - An Irish Christmas by Keith and Kristyn Getty Wed, Dec 14 @ Immanuel Baptist Richmond

2011-12-03T10:46:00.001-05:00

can't wait! Wed, Dec 14 @Immanuel Baptist Richmond See http://ping.fm/uv5Ne for tickets.
"Joy – An Irish Christmas" is a unique celebration of the birth of Christ with Keith and Kristyn Getty and their gifted musicians featuring a joyful sounds of traditional carols and new carols co-written by the this couple and Stuart Townend.

More From the Garden to the City by John Dyer

2011-12-01T21:26:00.001-05:00

Some more favorite quotes:

God is more interested in our theology of worship than in our technology of worship.

Instrumentalism is partially true in the sense that individuals are free to use phones however they please, but determinism also has an element of truth in that society at large tends to use the technology in a certain way.

In many parts of America today, the ritual of getting a car functions in the same way that becoming a hunter would have functioned for some Native Americans long ago.

What the Scriptures call our “flesh” is that part of us that is always bent toward self, at the expense of others and the exclusion of God. Our flesh, then, will always gravitate toward technology that favors the individual over the group.

The people who deeply trusted technology to give them security and meaning had those very things stripped away from them by technological change. Notice that God was able to change their behavior, but he didn’t have to take away their free will or destroy their creation to do so. All he had was to introduce technological change.

The Tower of Babel should remind us that social networks are not just toys—they are part of the most powerful technology in the world.

God took a group of slaves and gave them a set of objects, images, rituals, and language that would transform them into an entirely new culture, distinct from everyone around them.

the Hebrews were effectively living in the Silicon Valley of their day, watching the first major communication revolution. Although they didn’t create the first alphabet, early forms of Hebrew are directly related to those first alphabets.

For the first time since Babel, there was a common language among the peoples of the earth. This time, God employed that common language as the means of transmitting the gospel to Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth.

God is telling Israel that the images, forms, and tools through which we approach him do, in fact, matter to him.

We, too, need to become aware of how mediums work, and we will say that they do at least three things: they communicate meaning, they create new cultures, and they shape our thinking patterns.

Our souls are stained with sin, our bodies are destined for death, and our creations cause as many problems as they solve, but God has promised to restore them all.

Tim Tebow responds to Jake Plummer's comments

2011-11-24T10:48:00.001-05:00

"And that's how it works because Christ comes first in my life, and then my family, and then my teammates. I respect Jake's opinion, and I really appreciate his compliment of calling me a winner. But I feel like anytime I get the opportunity to give the Lord some praise, he is due for it."

from

Tim Tebow responds to Jake Plummer's comments on his faith http://content.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/post/2011/11/tim-tebow-responds-to-jake-plummers-comments-on-his-faith/1?loc=interstitialskip

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

8 Reasons Why Single Men Should Work in the Church Nursery | Pastor Mark

2011-11-22T13:05:00.001-05:00

Our God came to earth as a single guy and hung out with kids. They loved him. They didn’t crucify him like the religious folks. If you want to learn about Jesus and become more like him, spend more time with kids like he did.

via pastormark.tv

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

Mission Vision History

2011-11-22T07:39:00.001-05:00

Through its Institute and Emerging Leader program, DownLine is equipping men and women in the areas if Bible, Discipleship, and Manhood/Womanhood so that they are equipped to be effective in making disciples of Jesus Christ in their home, local church, and community. I am thrilled to see what God has done thus far through “DownLine”, and would be honored to have you as a teammate in this endeavor. I firmly believe that with the prayers and resources of people who share the burden of reaching people for Christ, God will do great things through “DownLine” for His glory.

-- Dr. Kennon Vaughan, Executive Director

via downlineministries.com

Thanks, Hamp Holcomb!

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

WithoutWax.tv by Pete Wilson |

2011-11-20T06:44:00.001-05:00

via withoutwax.tv

Is Short Term Missions A Waste?
by Pete Wilson
There’s a new book out entitled Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help (And How to Reverse It)
by Robert Lupton.

I haven’t read the book (I do plan on reading it as I think this is a very important topic) so I’m not really sure where Lupton is going, but he’s already creating some controversy. Apparently he’s in favor of seeing sweeping changes when it comes to American charitable giving.

The news here is painful. Our self-centeredness contributes to the problem. We evaluate our giving, Lupton argues, “by the rewards we receive through service, rather than the benefits received by the served.”

Short-term mission trips are a case in point. Such “junkets” involve expenditures of between $2.5-5 billion annually, yet produce little lasting change, often displace local labor, and distract indigenous church leaders from more important work. We get more than we give when we go.

Meanwhile, our relief-oriented, commodity-based charity flourishes at home because even though its effects are irresponsible, it feels good to the givers. Lupton grieves that “our free food and clothing distribution encourages ever-growing handout lines, diminishing the dignity of the poor while increasing their dependency.”

I often get similar questions asked of me when it comes to short term missions. Cross Point takes a dozen or so (and we hope to add many more soon) short term mission trips every year to the Dominican Republic, India, Africa, Honduras and Haiti.

I’m sure there are some people who go on these trips simply to feel better about themselves, but I think overall these trips are very productive. Here’s why:

1) Trips stretch people. Every person that goes on one of these trips is generally stretched beyond their comfort zone. These trips build enormous confidence in people and allows them to more freely trust God in the future.

2) People who go on mission trips tend to give more. Typically people who go on these short term mission trips are more likely to give financially toward missions. They’ve seen the need first hand and their heart has been softened.

3) People who go on mission trips serve more. I’ve noticed that people who go on international short term trips tend to serve the poor more actively at home when they return. They don’t use their trip as an excuse to sit on the sidelines as if they’ve met their serving quota. Generally it’s quite the opposite.

4) Trips call people to action. Sure there are people who go on these trips and little to nothing changes, but often it’s a life changing catalyst for them. I could go on and on with stories of people who are now changing the world because of a short term mission trip.

My friend, Rhonda, went to Africa a few years ago and since then has helped us start micro-businesses that are employing women with AIDS.

My friend, Melissa, went to Africa and has since helped start an orphanage.

My friends, Seth and Andy, went to India with me a year ago. Since then they’ve returned on their own and are starting a non-profit that’s going to impact hundreds there in India.

So what do you think? Do short term mission trips make a difference or is it just something we do to make ourselves feel better?

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

Spend an Hour with God - Life Action Revival Ministries

2011-11-16T08:19:00.001-05:00

Surveys indicate that most Christians spend five minutes or less each day in prayer. A meaningful time with God is vital to a vibrant spiritual life, but many don’t know how to get started. Here is a simple pattern for organizing a daily time with God. Spend five minutes on each of the following:

via lifeaction.org

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

How Green Are Your Gadgets? - Forbes

2011-11-11T11:02:00.001-05:00

Dell now has the most ambitious climate target of the rated companies, with plans to reduce its emissions by 40 percent by 2020.

via forbes.com

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

Week Three: He Talked With His Father

2011-11-08T07:44:00.001-05:00

Week Three: He Talked With His Father

I’ve learned that the simple act of kneeling on the floor and closing my eyes forces me to abandon distractions. Or I may listen to worship music or walk to a secluded spot.

The feeling that drove Jesus to seek private times of prayer was a deep sense of his human inadequacy.

Though I might say I am nothing without God, I must think otherwise or I wouldn’t allow the busyness of life to squeeze to the margins my time with him.

Thanksgiving to God, Friends and family, Enemies—problem people, Myself, Guidance, God will be honored through me and others

from The Jesus Experiment by Bill Perkins

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

Some favorite quotes from From the Garden to the City by John Dyer

2011-11-08T07:35:00.001-05:00

From the Garden to the City by John Dyer

Technology should not dictate our values or our methods. Rather, we must use technology out of our convictions and values.

Rather than taking our cues about technology from the Scriptures and the outline of God’s plan for humanity, we seem to be locked in a cycle of questioning the really, really new but accepting the just barely old.

In 2 John 12, the apostle wrote: Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete.

Socrates expressed concern about the technology of writing. He believed that learning in dialogue was the key to helping people grow in wisdom, and he worried that writing would make people knowledgeable, but it would fail to make them wise. Socrates was so worried about the damage that writing could cause that he never wrote any of his own ideas down.11

John makes a calculated choice to use a disembodied form of communication in service of the embodied life of the church, and in doing so he honors our Lord and builds up his Body.

every single commercial we watch or hear has the basic plot structure of beginning (our current limited existence), middle (acquiring a shiny new tool), and end (a better world only available to those with the tool).

Technology, then, is the means by which we transform the world as it is into the world that we desire. What we often fail to notice is that it is not only the world that gets transformed by technology. We, too, are transformed.

Marathon runners usually cannot lift six hundred pounds with their legs, and those that can perform such a feat usually cannot run marathons. One tool transforms us in one area, while a different tool changes us into something else.

Those who have developed the ability to consume complex arguments in books tend to feel overwhelmed by the rush of data online, so it is with cell phones, email, video chat, and all of the communication tools we use today. They both connect us and put something between us.

If it is true that technology has the capacity to shape the world that God made, as well as shape our bodies, minds, and souls, then it seems we should care deeply about our tools.

the cell phone is not just a tool but an integral part of the person’s identity, who they define themselves to be.

Language is our first example of how humans create within the creation of God, imbuing each creation with value and meaning.

technology now has at least four different meanings: (1) the skill of making things, (2) the study of the skill of making things, (3) the tools used to make things, and (4) the things made with these tools.

We are therefore able to create a simple, encompassing definition of technology: “the human activity of using tools to transform God’s creation for practical purposes.”

God takes a look at Adam and Eve’s garments, and instead of condemning the misuse of their creative powers and their attempt to solve their problems without him, God responds by doing something amazingly gracious—he gives out the world’s first free technology upgrade. He replaces their rough, uncomfortable, and relatively small fig leaves with brand-new state-of-the-art animal skins.

In some sense, all of our technology can be understood as an attempt to overcome the effects of the fall.

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

Road closures for this Saturday’s marathon ‹ Fan of the Fan

2011-11-07T14:00:00.001-05:00

Monument Avenue westbound between Mulberry and Westmoreland will be closed from 7:30 to 9:30am.

via fanofthefan.com

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

Speak up…

2011-11-06T05:42:00.001-05:00

via louxfamilyblog.com

Proverbs 31:8-9
English Standard Version (ESV)
8 Open your mouth for the mute,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
9Open your mouth, judge righteously,
defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

LEADING NOBLE MEN 2012

2011-11-01T05:16:00.001-05:00

Noble Warriors Inc.

Contact the Host

Noble Warriors is an independent Christian Men's Ministry. Our desire is to lock arms with pastors and leaders in local churches to ENGAGE, EQUIP and ENCOURAGE MEN TO WALK WITH CHRIST AND LEAD THEIR FAMILIES.

View other Noble Warriors Inc. events
Subscribe to receive notifications of future events by this host

via eventbrite.com

LEADING NOBLE MEN 2012
When:
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 from 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM (ET)

Where:
Grove Avenue Baptist Church
8701 Ridge Road
Richmond, VA 23229

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

Free Download: The Barber Who Wanted to Pray by Karisa Schlehr | Ligonier Ministries Blog

2011-10-29T06:14:00.001-05:00

In honor of Reformation Day, we are making the audiobook, narrated by R.C. Sproul, available as a free download through Reformation Day (Oct. 31). You can also pre-order the CD version of this story or buy the hardcover illustrated children’s book published by our friends at Crossway. May you and your family benefit from this helpful resource on prayer.

via ligonier.org

What a great story for all ages!

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

The Story: A New Church-Wide Campaign from Zondervan | MarkHowellLive.com

2011-10-26T06:09:00.001-05:00

The Story could deliver quite a church-wide experience. Especially in a culture with very, very low biblical literacy…might just be a goldmine.

via markhowelllive.com

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

Steve Jobs and Sun Records Studio | City Beat Blog

2011-10-25T14:22:00.001-05:00

Jobs and his wife and others made a secret visit to Sun Studio, where Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash and others recorded. Jobs was so emaciated that the staff did not recognize him, but the tour guide did such a good job that Jobs offered him to hire him.

via memphisflyer.com

My dad too!

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

Iran | Operation World

2011-10-24T05:06:00.001-05:00

Religion Pop % Ann Gr
Christians 384,897 0.51 5.1
Evangelicals 117,678 0.2 19.6
Muslim 74,054,491 98.64

Religion		Pop %	Ann Gr
Christians	384,897	0.51	5.1
Evangelicals	117,678	0.2	19.6
Muslim	74,054,491	98.64

via operationworld.org

Fastest growing in the world!

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

The My Hero Project - Albert Pujols

2011-10-23T14:04:00.001-05:00

Albert's adopted daughter, Isabella, has Down Syndrome. This is one reason Albert founded the Pujols Family Foundation which helps kids with Down Syndrome. It also helps impoverished families in the Dominican Republic. The Pujols family puts God first. In fact, their motto is "faith, family, others." The Pujols Family Foundation exists to serve others, to honor God and strengthen families through its works, deeds and by example.

via myhero.com

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

Associated Baptist Press - Baptist university contributes to Pujols Foundation as partner

2011-10-23T14:00:00.001-05:00

Founded by the couple, the Pujols' Foundation exists to help those living with Down syndrome in St. Louis and to improve the lives of the impoverished in the Dominican Republic.

via abpnews.com

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

Albert Pujols - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2011-10-23T13:39:00.001-05:00

Pujols and his wife are devout and active Christians;^[86] one of his writings on his family's foundation's website states, "In the Pujols family, God is first. Everything else is a distant second".^[87] He writes, "My life's goal is to bring glory to Jesus. My life is not mostly dedicated to the Lord, it is 100% committed to Jesus Christ and His will. God has given me the ability to succeed in the game of baseball. But baseball is not the end; baseball is the means by which my wife, Dee Dee, and I glorify God. Baseball is simply my platform to elevate Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior."^[88] Pujols attends a Baptist church.^[89]

via en.wikipedia.org

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

My Hardest Advice for Young Leaders | Ron Edmondson

2011-10-22T10:34:00.001-05:00

We would start wrestling in the “assumed position” he had been taught, but then I would use my extra 70 pounds as an advantage and quickly pin him to the ground.

via ronedmondson.com

I had 100 lbs!

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

Week Two: Abiding in Jesus from The Jesus Experiment by Bill Perkins

2011-10-22T09:47:00.001-05:00

Some of my favorite quotes from Week Two: Abiding in Jesus:

"He transforms creeping caterpillars into flying butterflies."

"Despite how he felt, Jesus always chose to abide in and rely on his Father."

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. (John 15:1-11, ESV, emphasis added)

"The essence of abiding is staying connected and allowing the life of the vine to produce its natural fruit through us. All our striving and struggling and seeking dissolve in that one quiet verb: abide. That’s how we prove to be his disciples. That’s how we become more like him. And that’s the essence of the Jesus Experiment."

"Because the words of the Bible express the mind of God, when we read it, meditate on it, and memorize it, we infuse our mind, soul, and spirit with the thoughts of God. It recently occurred to me that the Scriptures are a visible expression of the invisible God. When we hide it in our hearts, it becomes invisible again. Once within us, the invisible words of God are energized by the Holy Spirit to produce obedience."

"Abiding in Jesus consists of three elements:

• Living in a state of relaxed reliance on him

• Meditating on God’s Word so it abides in us and through it we abide in him

• Obeying the commands of God so we abide in his love"

from The Jesus Experiment by Bill Perkins

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

Chapter 1 of The Jesus Experiment by Bill Perkins

2011-10-20T06:57:00.001-05:00

Some of my favorite quotes from Chapter 1 of The Jesus Experiment by Bill Perkins

"I want my feelings, thoughts, words, and deeds to be so guided by Jesus that I experience the abundant life he offers."

"it’s this tendency to cover up that reminds me, even as I write these words, that I am still very much unlike Jesus."

"If you want to become more like Christ and experience the abundant life he promises, you must change."

"the psychological law of gravity: A person will continue down a path of destructive behavior until the pain of continuing exceeds the pain of changing."

"as people age, their true inner self pokes through to the outside. They don’t have the strength to restrain themselves, so you see what they’re really like."

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

So Thankful For My Aunt Janet!

2011-10-17T08:08:00.001-05:00

I am so thankful for my Aunt Janet who took me to church at First Presbyterian Church in Memphis, TN (http://www.firstpresmemphis.org/) when I was in elementary school. That was my first exposure to God who would eventually take first place in my life. She was Janet Elizabeth Lawson, daughter of John Joseph Lawson and Rubie Alice Calhoun. She was born on Feb 15, 1922 in Jackson, Mississippi, and died Dec 3, 1983 in Memphis, Tennessee. She lived long enough to see me accept Christ as my savior as a teenager. You never know the impact that your acts of service can have on others. How will you serve Christ today?

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

Thankful for my Aunt Janet

2011-10-17T08:03:00.001-05:00

Sports Backers - Events

2011-10-07T13:02:00.001-05:00

March 31 Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k

via sportsbackers.org

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

Gettymusic - Online music resources for the church

2011-10-02T13:40:00.001-05:00

$13.99

Joy - An Irish Christmas (pre-order)
Keith & Kristyn Getty (2011)
“Joy – An Irish Christmas” is a unique celebration of Christmas with keith and kristyn alongside players from their band and a host of guest Irish musicians including several virtuoso traditional players, the Irish Film Orchestra and Anuna. It is a collection of traditional carols and new carols co-written by the duo and Stuart Townend.
Throughout the history of Christianity itself the Irish and Celtic islands have written carols telling the narrative of Christ’s birth and gospel story combined with folk melodies in a way passed down through the generations to new hymnwriters.

The album provided a fresh opportunity to explore many new creative avenues in their work as composers of instrumental music, jigs and reels as well as hymns, songs and high energy arrangements with special inspiration coming from the birth of their first child Eliza Joy whose name sparked the title!

This is a Pre-order. Product will ship 18th October.

Free Hymn Bookmark set with all pre-orders!

Album Listings

1. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Lyrics

2. Hark the Herald Angels Sing Lyrics

3. What Child Is This? Lyrics

4. Magnificat Lyrics

5. How Suddenly A Baby Cries Lyrics

6. Joy Has Dawned / Angels We Have Heard on High Lyrics

7. Jesus Joy of the Highest Heaven (A Children's Carol) Lyrics

8. Carol of the Bells Lyrics

9. O Savior of Our Fallen Race Lyrics

10. Fullness of Grace Lyrics

11. Joy to the World (finale) Lyrics

12. An Irish Christmas Blessing Lyrics

via gettymusic.com

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

Knowing and Growing

2011-10-02T06:04:00.001-05:00

More quotes from Elders in Congregational Life: Rediscovering the Biblical Model for Church Leadership by Phil A. Newton

Any congregation's spiritual leaders should major on helping the church to apply the teaching of God's Word.

spiritual leaders must keep alert to the church's spiritual development. This includes the positive aspect of knowing, teaching, and encouraging spiritual growth in the church.

submission to authority is often a test of our submission to God.

When one is grieving all share in that grief. By that same rule, however, one person's attitude affects the whole church. When someone in the church rebels against or even becomes secretly agitated toward spiritual leadership of the church, the whole body is affected.

The Baptist emphasis on congregationalism, combined with the early American emphasis on individualism, likely resulted in the decline of churches being governed through elder plurality.

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

Casting Crowns - Positive Encouraging K-LOVE

2011-10-01T07:14:00.001-05:00

Casting Crowns

Originally written for the movie by the same title, Casting Crowns' newest song, "Courageous" encourages fathers and husbands to take their responsibilities seriously, and seek God for help.

via klove.com

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

The Great Need of the Hour

2011-10-01T06:31:00.001-05:00

"The great need of the hour is for godly men within our churches to be so sensitive to God's Word & to the Holy Spirit that they recognize deceit & have the courage to deal with it." from Elders in Congregational Life: Rediscovering the Biblical Model for Church Leadership by Phil A. Newton

October 9, 2011 (U.S.A.) Thank You, Pastor Sparky!

2011-10-01T04:22:00.001-05:00

October 9, 2011 (U.S.A.)
October is Clergy Appreciation Month!

Hebrews 13:7 (MSG)
Appreciate your pastoral leaders who gave you the Word of God. Take a good look at the way they live, and let their faithfulness instruct you, as well as their truthfulness.

Thank You, Pastor
You work vigorously, often neglecting personal needs to give us comfort and direction. You do so much, yet you receive so little in return. This National Clergy Appreciation Day, we take time out to acknowledge and celebrate the efforts of your leadership.

To honor you, we've brought together articles and resources to help you handle the day-to-day challenges of leading your flock. We also suggest ways for your church members to support and encourage you. May God bless you as you continue to guide us into a deeper relationship with him.

via christianitytoday.com

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

Upsidedown Bee: A Throne and a Cross

2011-09-30T18:50:00.001-05:00

In today's sermon, our pastor quoted a missionary by the name of William Borden (1887-1913) who was the heir to the Borden family fortune (as in Borden Milk, etc.) As a young man, William decided to give all the money and privileges up in order to serve the Lord in China. In route, he stopped to train in Egypt, contracted meningitis, and died within a month. Here's a link to a biography of his short life.
"Say "no" to self, "yes" to Jesus every time.... In every man's heart there is a throne and a cross. If Christ is on the throne, self is on the cross; and if self, even a little bit, is on the throne, Jesus is on the cross in that man's heart. If Jesus is on the throne, you will go where He wants you to go. Jesus on the throne glorifies any work or spot.

via upsidedownbee.blogspot.com

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

Courageous | hopeingod.org

2011-09-30T18:43:00.001-05:00

“I watched Courageous with my wife and was thoroughly engaged. I like action, and I like reflection, and I like affection—explosive moments, wrack-your-brain moments, and break-your-heart moments. Rarely do movies combine them all. For me this one captured me. Does the movie preach? Well, it sure has a point. But about the time you think you might get preached at, a bullet may cut through your car door. I would willingly take anyone to see this film, assuming they can handle suspense. And I think the conversations afterward would not be superficial.”—John Piper

via hopeingod.org

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

Elders in Congregational Life by Phil Newton

2011-09-30T17:56:00.001-05:00

Some of my favorite quote so far from Elders in Congregational Life: Rediscovering the Biblical Model for Church Leadership by Phil A. Newton

I know of no other book that gives such particular and practical consideration for transitioning to plural elders. Mark Dever, Capitol Hill Baptist Church

when the leadership group of a church is swamped in the mundane and temporal, they may fail to take to heart the deeper spiritual needs of the church.

the duties of elders might better be approached in a fourfold manner: doctrine, discipline, direction, and distinction in modeling the Christian life.

What difference can elders make in church life? If a congregation has a group of godly spiritual leaders who walk with Christ, who do so in such a way that they assist the body in fleshing out the details of the Christian life, who attend to the doctrine of the church, who labor to maintain discipline of the members, and who regularly give direction to the church, that church will be better positioned for spiritual growth and effective ministry.

These young, small churches of Asia Minor needed biblical instruction, regular discipline, spiritual leadership, and models for the faith.

The most remarkable thing about these characteristics is that there is nothing remarkable about them. -D. A. Carson speaking of requirements of elders in the Bible

Elders, deacons, and other church officers that fail to display the character required of spiritual leaders have done great damage to churches.

The congregation as a whole was not part of the discussions or debates, but they were later informed, and affirmed the result of the council

the congregation at large must focus on mobilization for ministry rather than spend its time worrying over governance.

the pastor is first among equals in authority-first by virtue of the church's call and his training and gifts, but equal in that he is not a "Lone Ranger" figure in church leadership.

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

Here comes Fall!

2011-09-27T05:33:00.001-05:00

via wric.images.worldnow.com

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

Charles Simeon Trust - Workshops in 2011/2012

2011-09-26T05:19:00.001-05:00

October 19-21, 2011
Columbus, Ohio
Northwest Presbyterian Church
Doug O’Donnell/Sparky Pritchard

via simeontrust.org

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

10 Years Later: Virginia Mason Production System Still Going Strong | Hospital Management & Adminstration

2011-09-24T07:55:00.001-05:00

Virginia Mason has a "just in time" system of supply acquisition. "We don't have a warehouse," Mr. Donnelly says. "We rely on Owens & Minor to be our warehouse." The hospital was able to reduce supply inventory and space.

via beckershospitalreview.com

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

A Definition of Expository Preaching

2011-09-24T06:03:00.001-05:00

"Expository preaching is the proclamation of Holy Scripture delivered for the purpose of enabling others to understand what God has written, why that is important, and how it relates to one’s personal life.

"Understanding what God has written requires the expositor to be accurate in both preparation and delivery of the Scriptures, so that the Bible is allowed to speak for itself.

"Understanding why God’s Word is important calls for the expositor to be passionate in communicating the truth, so that the one receiving the message is compelled to listen and eager to respond.

"Understanding how that message relates to life means that the expositor uses terms that are clear, delivers the message in ways that connect with needs, and applies it so specifically the hearer realizes the relevance of God’s Word and the necessity of aligning his or her life to it."

from The Church Awakening: An Urgent Call for Renewal by Charles R. Swindoll

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

Ministry is contagious when it remains strong in grace

2011-09-23T21:16:00.001-05:00

Some quotes from the final chapter of The Church Awakening: An Urgent Call for Renewal by Charles R. Swindoll

The best counsel I can offer the church is for us to recommit ourselves individually, as well as corporately, to believing and living the inspired Word of God.

A local body of believers can still drift away from Jesus’ plan for His church… even with solid doctrine and genuine deeds.

when promotion receives more emphasis than the essentials—the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer (see Acts 2:42)—then the tail is wagging the dog.

Stan Toussaint (a man in his eighties) to “tell us what stands out in your mind regarding elders.” I expected some profound, theological answer from the Greek text, but instead Stan answered simply: “I’ve learned that an elder needs to be older.”

What had eroded in the Ephesian church? Not their doctrine… not even their deeds… but their devotion to Jesus.

Something is wrong if you can turn to the words of Jack Hayford’s song and sing: “Majesty, worship His majesty!” and your soul isn’t stirring deep within you.

Before this day is over, I urge you to find a quiet place and ask yourself these two questions: Is Jesus really the first love of my life? Does He truly make a difference in how I live my life?

Even our educational institutions, while they train us to make a living, do nothing to prepare us to make a life.

A new way of “doing” church is emerging. In this radical paradigm shift, exposition is being replaced with entertainment, preaching with performances, doctrine with drama, and theology with theatrics.

In a strange twist, the preaching of the cross is now foolishness, not only to the world but also to the contemporary church.

The biblical fact is there are no successful churches. There are, instead, communities of sinners, gathered before God week after week in towns and villages all over the world. The Holy Spirit gathers them and does his work in them.

The task of the church, however, is not to assemble seekers but to make disciples.…

don’t just come on Sundays to sit and listen, but come to do business with God deep within your heart; allow the Word of God to invade your mind and change your life

The People of God Must Return to a Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness

The Ministers of God Must Repent of Their Failure to Fulfill Their Calling

Expository preaching is the proclamation of Holy Scripture delivered for the purpose of enabling others to understand what God has written, why that is important, and how it relates to one’s personal life.

Understanding what God has written requires the expositor to be accurate in both preparation and delivery

of the Scriptures, so that the Bible is allowed to speak for itself. Understanding why God’s Word is important calls for the expositor to be passionate in communicating the truth, so that the one receiving the message is compelled to listen and eager to respond. Understanding how that message relates to life means that the expositor uses terms that are clear, delivers the message in ways that connect with needs, and applies it so specifically the hearer realizes the relevance of God’s Word and the necessity of aligning his or her life to it.

The House of God Needs to Represent Its Biblical Purpose for Existence

The marvelous opportunity of ministry that lies before the church awaits only one thing: the church’s awakening. Stated simply, the people of God must return to a hunger and thirst for righteousness… the ministers of God must repent of their failure to fulfill their calling… and the house of God needs to represent its biblical purpose for existence. In spite of all the spiritual devastation and famine in our land, it is not too late to turn it around—by God’s grace.

The Bible affirms that a ministry is contagious when it remains strong in grace, when the older mentor the young, when it pulls together in tough and desperate times, and when it endures regardless of the challenges.

When the church fails to realize the times and react appropriately, erosion will take its toll. Please don’t forget the church of Ephesus, a ministry that began with a burning passion but whose love for the Lord cooled and eroded over the years. Each believer must regularly evaluate his or her own level of spiritual erosion and return to a vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ.

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

The Applause of Heaven by Max Lucado

2011-09-22T20:21:00.001-05:00

Our Father is relentlessly in pursuit of his children. He has called us home with his word, paved the path with his blood, and is longing for our arrival.

We can use any tragedy as a stumbling block or a stepping stone

God is wanting us to trust in the good times and the bad. For if we don't trust when times are tough, we don't trust at all."

His shirts are held together by Velcro, but his life is held together by joy.

His is a joy which consequences cannot quench. His is a peace which circumstances cannot steal.

from The Applause of Heaven by Max Lucado

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

Daily Attitude of Self-Denial

2011-09-21T07:49:00.001-05:00

"I believe what feeds our corporate worship wars on Sundays is a failure to worship God personally during the week. We can’t do corporately what we don’t do privately. When we don’t have the daily attitude of self-denial but rather self-fulfillment, Sunday naturally becomes an extension of that mind-set. Such thinking prompts an unavoidable clash. As consumers in a consumer-driven society, we want worship to be a reflection of our musical tastes, our personal preferences, confirming our likes and dislikes, our pleasures and prejudices." from The Church Awakening: An Urgent Call for Renewal by Charles R. Swindoll

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

Mature Enough To Tolerate the Weaker Believer

2011-09-21T07:46:00.001-05:00

"Paul knew that there was nothing inherently wrong with eating meat sacrificed to idols. But weaker Christians had scruples over the act. The stronger believer, therefore, should be mature enough to tolerate the weaker believer until he or she grows to a mature understanding of Christian liberty. That may mean refraining from a worship style you prefer." from The Church Awakening: An Urgent Call for Renewal by Charles R. Swindoll

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

Outward-Looking Focus Not Self-Absorption

2011-09-15T21:15:00.001-05:00

more favorite quotes from The Deliberate Church: Building Your Ministry on the Gospel by Mark Dever and Paul Alexander

If we are to be imitators of God (Eph. 5:1), then our churches will reflect something of that same outward-looking focus. Part of being a healthy church means not being satisfied with self-absorption. Yes, we are right to show concern for the purity and corporate testimony of our churches. But being outward-looking—looking for opportunities to be a blessing to other individuals, other churches, and other countries—is part of corporate maturity as a church body.

If God decides to bless your church with spiritual maturity and numerical growth, work among your own congregation to cultivate a culture in which helping other churches is a priority.

We need to be teaching people that a biblical church is about much more than simply meeting our felt needs for purpose, significance, fellowship, and mutual understanding. It is about the glory of God in the Gospel of Christ.

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

More Favorite Quotes from The Deliberate Church

2011-09-12T07:19:00.001-05:00

More favorite quotes from The Deliberate Church: Building Your Ministry on the Gospel by Mark Dever and Paul Alexander

The ultimate goal of building this kind of community—one built on distinctively Christian love that flows from the distinctively Christian Gospel—is to display God’s glory throughout our surrounding neighborhoods, our cities, and ultimately the world.

The covenantal, careful, corporate, cross-cultural, and cross-generational love that is to characterize the church and glorify God is at the same time intended to evangelize the world.

A steady diet of performances by soloists or even choirs can have the unintended effect of undermining the corporate, participative nature of our musical worship.

Fewer instruments on stage or even off to the side means fewer things in front of us competing for our attention and applause.

the absence of a fully wired worship band will help prevent the smog of performance from clouding the atmosphere of worship.

We use a piano, a guitar, and four vocalists, all positioned off to the side so that our attention isn’t drawn to them, and all lightly amplified so that they don’t drown out the voices of the congregation.

Our leading vocalists simply stand to the side and sing into a moderately amplified microphone so that there is a strong lead for the congregation to follow.

variety in worship songs and styles helps prevent people from becoming militantly entrenched in a certain style or period of music. Best of all, musical variety teaches us to glean spiritual profit from many different kinds of songs.

Under a more general paradigm of ministry, all the pastors share all the ministry. Cultivating this healthy sense of shared ownership is good. But the fragmentation that specialized ministries introduce often leads pastors to become possessive over their particular area of service.

retaining a more general paradigm of ministry cultivates unity among the pastoral staff, reduces the chance of ministry being perceived as a professional career, and minimizes the splintering of ministries, pastoral teams, and congregations. But it seems that specialized ministry is almost all there is out there.

some staff will also be elders in most situations—at the very minimum, the senior pastor will be an elder, and so will an associate pastor

The elders decide on the destination. The staff drive the bus. The deacons make sure we’ve got enough gas to get there.

If we want the unity of our church to be fundamentally built on the Word, then the unity of our elders must be built on the Word.

each elder will pray a one- or two-sentence prayer of praise. This is part of how the elders are being intentional about devoting themselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:1-4).

Praying for the sheep together as a gathered group of under-shepherds is an excellent way to promote the spiritual health of the congregation, to keep each other as elders accountable to faithfulness in prayer for the congregation, and to lead by example.

Encourage your elders over the coming weeks to memorize Ephesians 1:15-23; 3:16-19; Philippians 1:9-11; Colossians 1:9-14; 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13; and 2 Thessalonians 1:11 12. Lead by example, and pray that these qualities and habits would be characteristic and increasing in the corporate life and testimony of your church.

As we carry out this commitment to the Word and prayer among the gathered elders, we will be encouraging them to trust not in programs or personalities, not in advertisements or physical amenities, but rather in the powerful Word of God and in the promise of His life-giving Spirit.

The elders will also meet with the deacons in leadership meetings, which happen one week before the members’ meeting. This way, whether a member asks an elder or a deacon, all the officers of the church are on the same page, and everyone will be more likely to give the same answers and present a united front to the congregation.

The healthiest way for a pastor to view himself in the elders’ meetings is as a sort of first among equals.

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

More Quotes from The Church Awakening

2011-09-12T07:09:00.001-05:00

Some more quotes from The Church Awakening: An Urgent Call for Renewal by Charles R. Swindoll

It is sobering when faith realizes that persons may be deliberately unholy and still go to church, covetous and still say morning prayers, blasphemers and still repeat perfectly the Apostles’ Creed; they may be treacherous [that is, betrayers] and still remain on the church board, haters of good and still give lip service to God.

Satan’s philosophy of mass deception remains alive and well on Planet Earth.

the Bible will have no sustaining power for life if you make yourself the arbiter of what you will and will not believe about it. —Kent Hughes and Bryan Chapell

Christians are in the minority, to be sure. God always prefers to do His work through a remnant who face insuperable odds.

God has not ordained government to be the transforming agent of salvation or the platform for the proclamation of His truth in the world.

Entertaining churches with a shallow, superficial, feel-good message can never prepare you for the doctor’s report that reveals cancer.

Howie Hendricks often says, “A mist in the pulpit puts a fog in the pew.”

no president has openly quoted the Bible in decades.

allow the truth to fulfill its purpose in your everyday life. The church should react to its times, not by simply reading the Bible for insightful information, but by allowing its truths to bring about inner transformation. For the church, life change should be a normal response from exposure to truth, just as crops grow as a natural result of falling rain. Our belief affects our behavior… our creed shapes our conduct… our doctrine determines our duty. God designed it that way.

We live in an age that has drifted from a wholesome standard of morality to a wholesale and undiscerning emphasis on tolerance.

Unless you are unusual, you probably know less about the Bible than your grandparents knew.

even if you believe the Bible is the Word of God, it does you no good if you don’t read it.

The Bible is our spiritual GPS—we could call it “God’s Positioning System.” You’ll be going along in life and a passage of Scripture will come to mind that stops you in your tracks.

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

Gatherings & Ordinances

2011-09-04T07:12:00.001-05:00

Thoughts on Gatherings & Ordinances from The Deliberate Church: Building Your Ministry on the Gospel by Mark Dever and Paul Alexander

Sunday morning service - this is where we read, preach, pray, sing, and see the Word of God together every week.

Member meetings - Another important measure to take is to distribute the agenda a week in advance so that people can look it over, pray through it, and even air their concerns with you or the chairman in private so that the public meeting is not peppered with thoughtless, divisive, or combative questions.

When we have baptisms at our church, we place them at the end of the morning service because that is when the maximum number of members and visitors will be present to observe.

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

Gatherings & Ordinances

2011-09-04T07:11:00.001-05:00

Thoughts on services from The Deliberate Church: Building Your Ministry on the Gospel by Mark Dever and Paul Alexander

Sunday morning service - this is where we read, preach, pray, sing, and see the Word of God together every week.

When we have baptisms at our church, we place them at the end of the morning service because that is when the maximum number of members and visitors will be present to observe.

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

The Help Movie Tickets, Reviews, and Photos - Fandango.com

2011-08-30T21:10:00.001-05:00

The Help

Opened August 10, 2011 | Runtime:2 hr. 17 min.

PG-13
Thematic material

Information for parents: Common Sense Media says OK for kids 12+. Read More

The Help stars Emma Stone as Skeeter, Academy Award®–nominated Viola Davis as Aibileen and Octavia Spencer as Minny—three very different, extraordinary women in Mississippi during the 1960s, who build an unlikely friendship around a secret writing project that breaks societal rules and puts them all at risk. From their improbable alliance a remarkable sisterhood emerges, instilling all of them with the courage to transcend the lines that define them, and the realization that sometimes those lines are made to be crossed—even if it means bringing everyone in town face-to-face with the changing times.

via fandango.com

Really enjoyed The Help movie tonight. It brought back many memories of Jackson, Miss and growing up in Memphis in the sixties. Two differences from my childhood: 1. We were poor, but still had maids so that my mom could work, and 2. My maids, Alma & Sallie Mae certainly had permission to spank me! Even as a small boy, I knew that caring for us was more than a job and it was hard when each of them left.

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

Google Cuts Churches Out Of Nonprofit Program | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

2011-08-26T05:35:00.001-05:00

All of that changed in mid-March when the company launched "Google for Nonprofits." The new initiative united a robust set of Google's tools into one program, but it also came with new guidelines that excluded numerous entities, including schools, political thinktanks, churches, proselytizing groups, and any organization that considers religion or sexual orientation in hiring decisions.

via christianitytoday.com

Very Disappointing

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

Allowing Scripture Alone to Guide Us in Worship

2011-08-26T05:02:00.001-05:00

Some of my favorite quotes from chapter 7 of The Deliberate Church: Building Your Ministry on the Gospel by Mark Dever and Paul Alexander

think about the biblical reasons for allowing Scripture alone to evaluate and structure our corporate worship gatherings.

Carving out time in our Sunday morning services to read Scripture aloud, without comment, every week, makes a statement about the value we place on God’s Word.

five elements of worship (read, preach, pray, sing, and see the Word)

There is actually much wisdom and edification in employing a variety of musical styles so that people’s musical tastes broaden over time with wider exposure to different musical genres and time periods.

Edification—building people up—happens when people are encouraged to understand and apply the Gospel more biblically, not necessarily when they are led into an emotional experience or encouraged to identify temporary emotional expressiveness

The best of the hymns and the best of the more modern worship choruses are those that direct our focus away from ourselves and onto the character and Gospel of God.

Everything teaches, whether you intend it to or not.

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

What are the 9Marks? | 9Marks

2011-08-23T05:46:00.001-05:00

The Mission of 9Marks

9Marks exists to equip church leaders with a biblical vision and practical resources for displaying God’s glory to the nations through healthy churches. To that end, we want to see churches characterized by these nine marks of health:

via 9marks.org

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

Psalm 85:13 Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps.

2011-08-23T04:37:00.001-05:00

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
85:8-13 Sooner or later, God will speak peace to his people. If he do not command outward peace, yet he will suggest inward peace; speaking to their hearts by his Spirit. Peace is spoken only to those who turn from sin. All sin is folly, especially backsliding; it is the greatest folly to return to sin. Surely God's salvation is nigh, whatever our difficulties and distresses are. Also, his honour is secured, that glory may dwell in our land. And the truth of the promises is shown by the Divine mercy in sending the Redeemer. The Divine justice is now satisfied by the great atonement. Christ, the way, truth, and life, sprang out of the earth when he took our nature upon him, and Divine justice looked upon him well pleased and satisfied. For his sake all good things, especially his Holy Spirit, are given to those who ask him. Through Christ, the pardoned sinner becomes fruitful in good works, and by looking to and trusting in the Saviour's righteousness, finds his feet set in the way of his steps. Righteousness is a sure guide, both in meeting God, and in following him

via bible.cc

God will make a way

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

More quotes from The Deliberate Church: Building Your Ministry on the Gospel by Mark Dever and Paul Alexander

2011-08-18T18:21:00.001-05:00

More quotes from The Deliberate Church: Building Your Ministry on the Gospel by Mark Dever and Paul Alexander

Members need to know that spiritual maturity is not simply about their quiet times, but about their love for other believers, and their concrete expressions of that love.

The best way to lose your place of influence as a pastor is to be in a hurry, forcing radical (even if biblical) change before people are ready to follow you and own it.

But if you define success in terms of faithfulness, then you are in a position to persevere, because you are released from the demand of immediately observable results, freeing you for faithfulness to the Gospel’s message and methods, leaving numbers to the Lord.

when we assume the Gospel instead of clarifying it, people who profess Christianity but don’t understand or obey the Gospel are cordially allowed to presume their own conversion without examining themselves for evidence of it—which may amount to nothing more than a blissful damnation.

Three of the most important ways you can cultivate trust in your leadership among the congregation are expositional preaching, personal relationships, and humility.

That is the nature of the church—it is a godly web of mutually sanctifying familial relationships.

The Gospel is inherently and irreducibly confrontational. It cuts against our perceived righteousness and self-sufficiency, demanding that we forsake cherished sin and trust in someone else to justify us.

Requiring people to sign a church covenant lets them know that they will be expected not only to believe the statement of faith, but to live it out.

we want to ensure that they understand both the Gospel and the church biblically, and that they develop a track record of faithfulness in church attendance and Gospel application before we give them formal or public entrée into the spiritual lives of other members.

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

Assemble a Church Membership Directory for Prayer

2011-08-15T05:55:00.001-05:00

"One of the most practical things you can do for your own personal prayer life, and for the prayer lives of other church members, is to assemble a church membership directory (with pictures, if possible) so that everyone in the church can be praying through it a page a day."

from The Deliberate Church: Building Your Ministry on the Gospel by Mark Dever and Paul Alexander .

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

8 nations of innovation according to Rick Warren » djchuang.com

2011-08-14T19:47:00.001-05:00

TEDxOrangeCoast happened in May 2011 at UC Irvine. Amidst the speakers’ lineup was Saddleback Church’s pastor Rick Warren & you can watch the video. He described how innovation often comes from asking the right questions, and listed 8 essential questions as the “8 Nations of Innovation”:

Termination- What do I need to stop doing?

Collaboration (Coordination) – How do we do it faster, larger, cheaper, or with a team?

Combination – What can we mix together to make something new?

Elimination (Simplification) – What part could we take out in order to make something similar?

Reincarnation (Reinvention) – What has died that we can bring back to life in a new format?

Rejuvenation – How can we change the purpose for why we are doing it?

Illumination – How can we look at it in a new light?

Fascination – How can we make it more interesting?

via djchuang.com

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

VeggieTales® Newest Story Helps Kids Find Their Own Gifts

2011-08-14T05:51:00.001-05:00

Finally, a fairytale where the source of beauty comes from within our little girls’ hearts and not from a magic spell.

via familyfirst.com

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

The Deliberate Church: Building Your Ministry on the Gospel by Mark Dever and Paul Alexander

2011-08-12T16:25:00.001-05:00

Some of my favorite quotes from a new book I have started: The Deliberate Church: Building Your Ministry on the Gospel by Mark Dever and Paul Alexander

"Ours is a ministry of magnification—making God’s glory appear to the eyes of the world as big as it really is by bringing it into closer view and sharper focus in the form of the local church."

"The Word builds the Church. Our power is not in having small groups, or meeting the felt needs of our target audience, or using the right evangelism program, or having funny skits, or providing plenteous parking, or targeting our ministries to postmoderns. Our power is in our unique message—the Gospel (Greek, euangelion)—not in our innovations."

"Do you measure success by results, or by faithfulness to God’s Word?"

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous

Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health by Donald S Whitney

2011-08-10T21:59:00.001-05:00

Some of my favorite quotes from Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health by Donald S Whitney

"Don Whitney has done it again! After already giving me three of the books I most frequently recommend to others, I think he's given me a fourth! This book poses the questions we need to ponder if we're to persevere in following Christ." -MARK DEVER, pastor,

1 Do You THIRST FOR GOD? ............................... 15

2 ARE You GOVERNED INCREASINGLY BY GOD'S WORD? ........................................... 29

3 ARE YOU 1' ."'ORE LOVING? ................................. 41

4 ARE YOU MORE SENSITIVE TO GOD'S PRESENCE? ......................................... 55

5 Do You HAVE A GROWING CONCERN FOR THE SPIRITUAL AND TEMPORAL NEEDS OF OTHERS? ...................................................... 69

6 Do You DELIGHT IN THE BRIDE OF CHRIST?..... 81

7 ARE THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT TO YOU? ................. 91

8 Do You STILL GRIEVE OVER SIN? .................. 101

9 ARE YOU A QUICKER FORGIVER? ..................... 11 1

10 Do You YEARN FOR HEAVEN AND TO BE WITH JESUS? ...............................................

Until and unless the Holy Spirit of God touches the spiritual tongue of the empty soul, that soul will never want to "taste and see that the Lord is good" (Psalm 34:8).

Many who claim they are questing for God are not thirsting for God as He has revealed Himself in Scripture, but only for God as they want Him to be, or for a god who will give them what they want.

Too much attention to a particular sin or sins, and/or too little attention to communion with God (two things that often occur in tandem) inevitably shrivel the soul of a Christian.

Knowing Christ well is so spiritually thirst quenching because no person, possession, or experience can produce the spiritual pleasure we can find in Him.

So there is no lack of satisfaction in knowing Christ, but neither has God designed us so that one experience with Christ satiates all future desire for Him.

O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need for further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. 0 God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made thirsty still.

When a man pants after God, it is a secret life within which makes him do it: he would not long after God by nature. No man thirsts for God while he is left in his carnal [that is, unconverted] state. The unrenewed man pants after anything sooner than God:... It proves a renewed nature when you long after God; it is a work of grace in your soul, and you may be thankful for it.

Without the addition of meditation, warned the great man of prayer and faith George Muller, "the simple reading of the Word of God" can become information that "only passes through our minds, just as water passes through a pipe."

Spend 25 to 50 percent of your Bible intake time meditating on some verse, phrase, or word from your reading. Ask questions of it. Pray about it. Take your pen and scribble and doodle on a pad about it. Look for at least one way you could apply it or live it. Linger over it. Soak your soul slowly in the water of the Word, and you'll find it not only refreshes you, but prompts a satisfying thirst for more."

twice in the New Testament (see Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16) Christians are commanded to sing psalms. Unlike any other book of the Bible, the Psalms were inspired by God for the express purpose of being reflected to God.

However you choose to spend the Lord's Day, I appeal to you to base your decisions and actions on the revelation of God.

Read less, if necessary, in order to meditate more.

What praying through Scripture can do to reinvigorate your prayer life, meditation on Scripture can do to revitalize all forms of your Bible intake.

Read the Bible daily and do not close it until you know at least one thing God would have you do in response to your reading.

The test of Christlikeness is not the greatness of your love toward those who love you, but the bounty of your love toward those who do not.

So when it comes to discerning the presence of God, one must first be "Immanuelized." That is to say, you can't reliably recognize the presence of "God with us" until you experience "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27).

Only God's grace working through the disciplines can transform those who practice them with eyes of faith on Him.

Devote yourself more to the pursuit of Christlikeness and the enjoyment of God through the spiritual disciplines than to the pursuit of efficiency and the completion of to-do lists.

Posted via email from dannywahlquist's posterous


Sunrise:	7:25 AM ET
Avg. High:	47.0°
Record High:	74.0° (2000)


Sunset:	5:04 PM ET
Avg. Low:	29.0°
Record Low:	7.0° (1918)

7.	Jesus Joy of the Highest Heaven (A Children's Carol)		Lyrics