Tuesday Question Of The Week

I have watched it on youtube least 50 times. The first time was moving, the second time I noticed some things I missed the first time and so on. So when my production team talked about the Cardboard Testimony video and possibly using it in one of our services, I wasn't sure it would work. We talked around it for several minutes. We discussed several ways to keep it fresh and unique to our congregation. Once we landed on an idea we sold out to it. I honestly wasn't sure what to expect. I hoped it would be a good thing for our people and really felt it would have some amount of success. But what we experienced Sunday far surpassed anything I could have ever imagined. What we witnessed was one of the most powerful events in the 100 year history of our congregation. God showed up in a way that had our church completely in awe of His saving grace and power.

It happened because people were courageous enough to bear their souls to their church family. It is truly amazing when we see God's power change someone from the inside out. This leads me to my question of the week:

In a few simple words, how has God changed you?

Healing Rain

We got this idea from Hillside Christian Church in Amarillo, TX. This ended up being a powerful way of communicating how far God is willing to go to change lives.



I was moved to tears... made it very difficult to sing. God is incredible!

If you were a part of this group of people, what would you have written on your cardboard?

Your Pet Will Not Be In Heaven

This may come as a surprise to some of you but, just in case you don't know, your pet has no soul. This of course leaves millions of people wondering "What will happen to my pet after the rapture?"
Unfortunately millions of pets will suddenly find themselves without owners, unattended and left to starve within their own homes and backyards. Assuming you believe in the rapture of all Christians will happen, how should a pet owner then plan for the care of their pets after the rapture?

Check out this guy I found on Craigslist>Kansas City

Pet Rapture Insurance



Who knew Jesus was a pet hater?

State Fair

Every year its the same sequence of events.
State Fair commercials come on TV.
April reminisces about her family going to the fair.
Kids get excited.
Someone shouts out "Dad can we pleeeeaaaaaase go to the fair this year?"
I say "No, fairs are a waste of money..."
They all say in unison "But DAAAD!"
I say "NO!"

I seriously don't like the whole State Fair scene.

This year the annual sequence began to play out but this time with a new ending.
GRANDMA!

So somehow I ended up with the kiddos, AP's Grandma and her mom at the Tulsa State Fair.
I can't say I had a lot of fun but these guys sure did


While I may never enjoy the State Fair

I will always enjoy this.

Tuesday Question of the Week

I have been a part of four funeral/ memorial services this past week. In each case I have heard people say things like "I'm sure going to miss him" or "I miss her already." I have even found myself suddenly desiring to spend time with my friend Donn after I found out about his death this past Friday. I really miss him now but why didn't I miss him before? Its a strange feeling.

This leads me to my question of the week:

What does is really mean to miss someone?

Make A Difference Monday

Here at romanstwelveone we are always looking for ways to be "Living Sacrifices". As a part of that effort Mondays are "Make a Difference Day". This is an effort that goes beyond giving our used items to Goodwill or dropping money in the plate each week. While those things are important it is equally important that we allow God to use us to impact the lives of those around us in real and tangible ways. This is your day to share and brainstorm ideas on how we can live out our worship in a way that is "holy and pleasing to God".

Sunday, my small group was informed of a woman who is going through an incredibly difficult divorce. Not only does she need your prayer and spiritual help she has now found herself in desperate need of physical help. While I cannot print her name here, I can tell you she has just a few days left to move out of her house and has literally no where to go. This week a few of the ladies in our group are helping find a place for her (and her kids) to live and this weekend several of us are getting together to help her pack and move her stuff into wherever that may be. All of us have been effected (either directly or indirectly) by broken marriages. We can all relate to the difficulties this woman and her family are facing at this very moment. The needs here are great and if you feel that God is leading you to help please let me know and I can fill you in. This is where the church shines and where lives are impacted. Please pray about how you can join us and help this family in their time of need.

Let us know how you are impacting your community, school or share an idea you may have that could make a real difference in somone's life. Your turn...

Donn T. Moore

Have you ever had a person in your life that supported you whether you deserved it or not? Donn Moore was that guy for me. He was an elder for a small church in Skiatook OK and was the one guy who was willing to go through the fire with me as I learned what it meant to lead in a church ministry. It was a really big task. Not only was I immature as a minister but I also thought I knew everything about leading a church... dangerous combination. I think Donn was able to see what no one else was willing to see and he was able to do what no one else was willing to to at that time in my life. He stood by me through every descision I made, big or small, right or wrong. I will always remember him for the long phone conversations and the after- elder- meeting counseling sessions that would last until all hours of the night. He invested in me and if it were not for him I would likely not be who I am today. It's a shame that I lost touch with him after my wife and I left Skiatook. Every once in a while I would run into him and his wife (Darlene) at the store or at a restaurant but we never got around to that dinner we kept promising each other. Today I regret that more than ever. About 12:00 today I found out that Donn Moore lost his battle to cancer, won his war against Satan and is now cancer free at his new home with Jesus.

Donn Townsend Moore, 66, of Skiatook, Okla., died Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2008, at Hospice of Wichita Falls.

Graveside services will be Saturday in Vanderpool, Texas. A celebration of life will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at First United Methodist Church in Skiatook, Okla., with the Rev. P. J. Stewart and the Rev. David Stephenson, presiding. A reception and visitation will be held immediately following the Skiatook service.

Mr. Moore was employed in the petroleum industry, where he worked until retiring in 1991.

Survivors include wife, Darlene Adair Moore; daughter, Amy Kingston of Mesquite, Texas; sons, David of Wichita, Kan., and Brandon; stepsons, Lee Maxwell of Los Angeles and John Maxwell of Tahlequah, Okla.; father, Oscar Moore of Vanderpool; brothers, Doug of Bedford, Texas, and Dennis of Utopia, Texas; and eight grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Wichita Falls, 4909 Johnson Rd., Wichita Falls, Texas, 76310; the American Cancer Society or the charity of the donor’s choice.

See you when I get home Donn... lets do dinner.

I Didn't Scream and I Didn't Cry... and I Need Too! AAAAAHHHH!!

ummmm... comments?

Mad Props Friday

Friday is Mad Prop's Day! This is the day I give my "Prop's" to someone who has done something outstanding during the week. Feel free to leave your own "prop's", "atta boy's", or whatever it is you happen say to let someone know they are friggin awesome.

One of the goals I have for my blog is that it can be a safe community of discussion for everyone who chooses to participate. It is important to me to have a place where we can discuss God's will for our lives and our world without damaging our spiritual well being or compromising our authenticity as Christians. That being said I want to hand out today's "Mad Prop's" to a prominent political figure.

I have to admit I love politics. I enjoy engaging other world views and challenging those to see a better vision for our country. However, this year's presidential campaign has been one of the most humiliating and embarrassing campaigns I can remember. I understand the angst that is present in our country right now. We are still trying to wrap up an unpopular war in Iraq, we still have not caught the man responsible for the attacks on 9/11, the economy is as volatile as its ever been and everyone is tired of being lied to by politicians. What I don't get is why people are so angry that they would stoop so low as to launch personal and vile attacks against another political opponent. I'm not talking about attacks on a person's record or on beliefs that would effect the way that person would govern. I'm talking about personal attacks like the attacks being launched by the Hollywood crowd against Governor Palin. The attacks by media journalists comparing her to a "toned down porn actress" or when the workers for the DNC hack in to her personal e-mail account to try and dig up dirt so they can intentionally tarnish her image. It's shameful and wrong.
No matter what you feel about her beliefs or political affiliations you have to admire a person who is so convicted she is willing to take all the attacks and stand up for what she believes in. So my Mad Prop's this week go out to Governor Palin. I know you probably don't read my blog but you have a lot of fortitude to take it on the chin a still put up a good fight.

Who gets your "Mad Prop's" this week?

New Social Network

Yes... I'm a nerd. This whole social network thing is fascinating! I am having a blast blogging and connecting to childhood friends and new communities of people everyday. My newest adventure is the new social network "twitter". I just signed up tonight so I will let you know how it goes. Come be a part of my twitter network at http://twitter.com/romanstwelveone

Make A Difference Monday

I have been thinking about doing something like this for a long time now. Im not sure how well this will work or if any of you would even consider participating. However, I want to use Mondays to challenge, discuss or create ways that we can help make a difference in people's lives beyond our normal daily routines. So here is your assignment. Explain one tangible way you are helping make a difference in people's lives and why. You may not be doing this on a weekly basis but your ideas may be helpful to someone who is looking for a way to show Christ's love to others. If you are not involved in something but have an idea let us know what you are thinking. The idea here is that we can create somewhat of a "think-tank" that will help generate ideas about ways we can impact our community in a real and tangible way. Here is what one community from Atlanta is doing...



Your turn! Let the impact begin...

Out of My Box

Even though I have spent most of my life in Oklahoma, I'm not much of a country boy. So there is only one reason I would borrow this

a pair of these

This:

make my self look like this
and attend an event like this

What reason you ask?

For this
Anything for my Ap

P.S. For the record
I thought the set was freaking awesome

but most of all I enjoyed being with her

Hope you had a great time Ap!

Tuesday Question Of the Week

One of the big buzz words in many churches these days is "Community". It's always interesting to me that we find new and creative ways to package what God intended for the church to be. When I was growing up it was CARE groups then later it was LIFE groups. It wasn't much longer we threw away the acronyms and called it Small Groups and of course now its just Groups with an emphasis on "community". I guess the most surprising part of this is the concept of repackaging is that we have to do it at all. Its almost as if we have to "sell" God's word to the believers to claim to follow His word.

You don't have to look very hard to find God's intention in establishing smaller communities in which to do ministry. When Moses was leading the Israelite people God recognized that it was next to impossible for any one man to lead such a massive amount of people. He had Moses divide his people into smaller groups down to ten per group just so he could lead them effectively. Jesus had a small group who later established small communities around the region and eventually started the greatest small group movement in the history of mankind.
Most of the New Testament was written to small groups of people.

I find it a bit ironic that the larger we get as a congregation the smaller we have to become to shepherd people and do ministry effectively. So here is my question of the week:

Tuesday Question of the Week

Are you in a small group? Why?/Why not?