ACC - Leadership Online

Every once in a while you run across something you just have to share with your friends...so enjoy!
Peace,
Dave

Today I did it! I’ve tried before but always fell short – way short. Usually I’d get bogged down somewhere in Leviticus; in a good year I’d get all the way past II Samuel. But today as I read the final words in Revelation 22 I finally did it for the first time in my life – I read through the entire Bible in one year!

I used the daily bible reading program at www.blueletterbible.com and that worked well for me. Sometimes I got behind schedule and had to read 30 -40 chapters in one day to catch up. Sometimes my motivation level was pretty low and I really had to force myself to read. But overall I really did enjoy it. I’ll tell you what really helped me keep reading – this program has a feature where after I acknowledged that I did the daily reading – it showed me what percentage of the Bible I had read. So throughout the year I slowly watched it creep from 3% to 26% to 71% to 88% to the glorious moment earlier today when I hit 100%!!!!!

Here is what I’m thinking though: So what? Who cares?

Why one year? That’s a fairly arbitrary length of time. Why not one month? Or two years? Nothing magical in one year. Also nothing magical in reading through the whole Bible.

In fact, I never once took time to meditate on what I was reading. Never prayed through it or studied it in depth or journaled about it. I just kept plowing through it in order to accomplish my one year goal. If using the metaphor of the Word being water – this was water just rolling off my back. Sure I learned some things, I was occasionally inspired and it’s cool to say I did it, but any true spiritual benefit was pretty minimal.

I’m pretty sure the Word of God was meant to be sipped, not guzzled; to be savored, not snarfed.

This next year I’m going to slow it way down. Focus on quality of my reading rather than quantity. Take time to let God speak to me, take time to truly listen; let the water of the Word saturate my dry and thirsty spirit.

How about you?

Peace,
Dave

Barak Obama will be our next president. Some of us are thrilled by his victory, maybe even overjoyed! Some of us are depressed, maybe even scared or angry or disillusioned. Regardless of whether you were pro-Obama or NObama in this campaign, the fact is Obama will be sitting in the Oval Office come January.
As followers of Christ we need to be obedient to God starting now! Here is what it looks like:

1. Submit to Obama. “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities…” Romans 13:1a
• The campaign was brutal. It was too long, too mean-spirited and it seemed to really polarize our country. Too bad. But the election is over. In every election there is a winner and a loser. It’s time to rally around the winner, our new leader.

2. Respect Obama. “…for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” Romans 13:1b-2
• There was a lot of hating going on in this political season - bogus emails, blatant lies, character defamation, and unfounded accusations. Both sides had fools flinging mud. Perhaps sometimes the criticism was valid – the accusations true. But now Obama is the man so quit complaining, quit spreading rumors, quit slandering his reputation. God put him in the position he is in so don’t be stupid – respect the man; respect the office.

3. Pray for Obama. “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior…” I Timothy 2:1-3
• I don’t know about you, but I can’t think of a more difficult job than being president of the United States. Mr. Obama needs wisdom, integrity, safety, courage, compassion, good health and the hide of a rhinoceros (I know, because it comes in handy for pastors too!). I’d say we have plenty to pray about.

This was written before the results of the election were known(though an Obama victory was anticipated); that’s because these words were going to be needed whether McCain or Obama won. So whether this post finds you happy or bummed – let’s be people who are pleasing to God.

Peace,
Dave

This is what I think.

I have to prioritize the many issues in this current political campaign. Not all issues are equal in importance, urgency or moral profundity.

National security, immigration reform, health care, the environment, the war in Iraq, even the economy - pales in comparison to protecting the the lives of unborn babies. If we fix everything else but fail to stand up for the innocent, defenseless unborn children - then we truly are a morally bankrupt society.

I'd rather put a bullet in my head than cast a vote for a "pro-choice" candidate.

This is what I think.

What do you think?

So it's only Monday night, but I'm already thinking about what songs we should sing next Sunday. I know I've said it before, but I believe that the songs we sing have a way of teaching us about who God is and give us words that we can say to God as our response to what He has done for us.

So in light of that, here's a question for all you blog readers: If you were the worship director for a week, what songs would you select for a Sunday service at ACC? Leave a comment and let us know what 3-4 songs you would pick.

Who knows - we might even take some of you up on your suggestions in the weeks to come - but no guarantees!

~Scott