What I need is a web-based calendar for use on our church web site. It needs to have the standard stuff like repeating entries, categories, multi-user support, etc. Nice-to-haves would include stuff like RSS feed support and capability to export into various formats like iCal and Palm.

The thing that I really want but can’t find is the ability to assign/manage resources. For instance, if someone reserves a classroom and needs a projector then I want to be able to assign that room and that projector to the date/time specified in the calendar. Ideally I’d like to be able to view by resource as well so that I could see who has the church van scheduled for the upcoming week, for instance.

This is almost getting into facilities management and I don’t know if I can find what I’m looking for the price I want to pay - $0. Ok, I can pay a little more than that but not the thousands that some of these packages cost.

Any thoughts?

Remember all those things you thought would never come to pass? Think again…

HT : MDC

Cancel them - quick! Find your nearest TBN channel and tune in tonight for…

According to Brant Hansen, “The finale for “Gifted” is on tonight. Some people are unclear on the concept, so let me try: It’s like “American Idol”, except that, just like on Idol, Christians are allowed on the show. And no, I don’t understand that last sentence, either.”

This is not a joke. (I wish it was.)

[This post partially inspired by an IMonk post from last week.]

Let me ask a question and then get into a few qualifications :

On what basis do we believe that prayer is a two-way conversation with God?

I think this is fairly common in Evangelical(and other) circles. And it’s one of those things that you just don’t question without getting some funny looks. But, how is it that we think we should speak for a while and then be quiet and “listen” for God?

Just to be clear, I don’t think we have to have a specific scriptural example/instruction for this to be true. But it does have to be cogent with who God has revealed himself to be. And there should be scriptural pointers which at least provide a hook to hang your coat on. Where I think we might run into trouble is assuming what God could do is what he does do and then extrapolating that into a rule for everyone else.

Comment away!

Take this quiz to find out. (Warning: the advanced quiz is quite difficult!) Post your scores in the comments if you’re brave/brazen enough.

(HT: Bill, at The Thinklings)

Ok, so this is WAY different than our normal dialogue, but it is just too hilarious not to share. So, after much debate, I have decided to post it.

No great significance here, just a funny video. I will warn you…about the last 20 seconds he throws in a few choice words. I don’t want to offend anyone, so just a friendly warning. Enjoy!

(click on thumbnail for a larger picture)

Was looking around for S2 the other day and realized that he had made his way downstairs, turned on the TV, found a channel he liked, and made himself comfortable. Now normally we don’t let the kids just pick and choose what they want to watch but this time we made an exception. Who can say “No” to college basketball?

BTW, this 2yo, who still says “kkkkkkk”(imagine the clearing of phlegm) when he wants a drink can now say “ba-ball” and “foo-ball”. Not only that, he knows which sport is which when he sees them on TV and can show you what you’re supposed to do with the appropriate balls. I’m still not sure the girls(7 & 5) could do all that. I guess this just points out how very, very different they all are.

Since today is a Holiday where we celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, I thought I would post a link to a video of his famous ‘I have a Dream’ speech.

The video quality wasn’t so good for me (could be my connection), but the audio is fantastic. It takes about 20 minutes to hear the whole speech, which is WONDERFUL. I still get chills listening to it.

For me personally, I think if I had one wish in life, it would be to have been there on that day when he gave his speech. I know there are other wonderful moments in History, but I am fascinated by that one. I am a person who has been changed by his legacy and am thankful that we celebrate this Holiday.

A few short comments about the speech. I find it interesting that many of his core points are still relavant today. I’m not referring to the ones specifically related to the 1960s, but the ones that transcend time. One example is where he says that our freedom as people is tied up together. All people, regardless of race, can’t be truly free (physically speaking, not spiritually) until people of all races are given the dignity and respect we each deserve as a creation of God. I think that is something we often miss. We think that racism isn’t our problem if we don’t hold prejudical views…but it is. We are all hindered by racism, if for no other reason then because there is value and personal richness (not monitary) in not having boundaries that keep people from different races so often separated. Even if we don’t try to put up any boundaries, they exist all around us.

And that hurts my heart…

“The abuse of a harmless thing is the essence of sin.”
–A.W. Tozer  ***************  “We have a strange illusion that mere time cancels sin. But mere time does nothing either to the fact or to the guilt of a sin.”–The Problem of Pain, C.S. Lewis  *************** “Every sin is the distortion of an energy breathed into us…”
–Letters to Malcolm, C.S. Lewis ***************“There’d be a lot less scandal if people didn’t idealize sin and pose as sinners.”
--The Father Brown Omnibus, G.K. Chesterton

***************

“…affliction is better than sin, and if God sends the one to cleanse us from the other, let us thank him, and be also content to pay the messenger.”
–Seasonal Counsel OR Advice to Sufferers, John Bunyan

***************

“Do you mortify? Do you make it your daily work? Be always at it whilst you live; cease not a day from this work; be killing sin or it will be killing you”
–John Owen

***************

When the principles that run against your deepest convictions begin to win the day, then the battle is your calling, and peace has become sin. You must at the price of dearest peace lay your convictions bare before friend and enemy with all the fire of your faith.
–Abraham Kuyper  ***************  If the Lord’s bearing our sin for us is not the gospel, I have no gospel to preach.” –C.H. Spurgeon  ***************
Anyone have more to add? If so, leave your quote in the comments.

So we have this cross that has sprung up fully formed in the midst of our little town. I’m sure it’s just that I’m not very observant but it’s like God came down an planted it in the ground Himself early one morning around 4am. I mean, how do you not notice a 100+ foot cross only a few hundred yards off of the interstate? Anyway, that’s not really your issue…

I don’t know what I really think about it being there. It’s on some land that was recently donated to a church to construct a building. The pastor says that they did it to honor God for giving them the land. It seems that he(the pastor) had promised God that he would do this if God gave them a place to build. They also say it’s to get people to reflect on their faith - or lack of.

Quite honestly, my first thought on seeing it is why do Christians have no feel for aesthetics? But that’s just me…

What do you guys think? Is this really a way in which God wants to be honored? Should the money have been spent in other ways? Is the purpose of the church fulfilled by building a really big cross?

No matter what, it’s not even in the same class as this or this.

Update : The cross in the picture - though very similar - is not the one close to us.