Beyond Opinion Book Review

Ravi Zacharias and his band of apologists hit it out of the park with this one! It is a synopsis of the world views and individual analysis of many of the arguments raised by those who disagree with orthodox Christianity found in the Apostle’s Creed. It also gives an intellectual as well as diligent rhetorical analysis that can be used to refute scholars in debates as well as the common lay person.

Beyond giving argumentation for a Christian Worldview, it also gives support for the personhood of Christ and Divine Revelation over the importance of just arguing a point. This is very important in any apologetic because at the end of every argument is a decision to either follow a specific person or to follow specific ideas. It is in the following the person of Jesus Christ that then leads to a right perspective of apologetics. This of course seems like a circular logic, but in turn it is really the fundamental argument of trying to find what is and what isn’t reality. Choices have to be made and arguments have to be settled after a thorough analysis of facts.

Topics analyzed include: Evolution, Science, the different World Religions, and the trinity.

Facilities for Branches

Here are some artist renderings of the facility we want to build for Branches:

Architectural Renderings for Branches

Just kidding!

When I was little, I would sit on the playground and draw. One project was a church. The daycare workers asked, "What are you drawing?" I said, "I am drawing a church that I am going to build one day." They walked away amazed, but I was nine and terribly bored.

I've come a long ways since then :) :). Branches has a commitment that is uncommon in what I am used to in Church Planting world. It has a commitment to stay a non facility church. I have found that every classic church plant I have been involved in went way wrong when they tried to build a building. If they were huge like New Spring, well thats a different story. Or if they were gathering large momentum like Barefoot in Myrtle Beach, that too is a horse of a different color. I am talking about small church of less than 200 trying to build buildings.

I like rapidly multiplying house church, and the idea of these is no building! Rent out spaces, maybe even an amphitheater, community center, movie theater, or college, but don't jump into a building program until you break a thousand--I would like to split the gatherings way before then!

I do wish I had a cool tree house though!

Church Planting Movements

Branches is all about reaching those that haven't heard. In travelling and studying different church models, as well as participating in church plants, I have been able to go literally all over the planet. The coolest thing by far that I have found are what we call Church Planting Movements. This is where we go in and start a house church that intentionally starts another house church that intentionally starts another house church ad infinum. I have seen this with my work in Russia, and with my best friend Volodya who is over in China helping do this very thing as he works bivocationally as an engineer.

The unique thing about Branches is that it won't just have a big church service with small groups. It will have a big church service built around the needs of seekers, but it will also have a House Church Network in the place of small groups. The whole thing is to help inform people about Church Planting Movements and to get people involved in a House Work Movement instead of just splintered off house churches that aren't networked effectively.

If you are a part of our core, you don't necessarily have to buy into house church, thats why we want to have the regular service with children's programming as well.

As I have spoken with people interested in being a part of a launch team, I know the fear that it is too much work to commit to. Believe me, I hear ya. I have been here before, but this is the first time I have been here while doing another job that I don't want to quit (aka teaching!). It won't be any more work though than volunteering to help with youth or children in a bigger church.

The vision right now is for us to get the core group built around the ideas above, and then launch the big service when the core is established. Paper work, logos, all that jazz is to be handled by Aaron (who has yet to find a teaching position so hey, why not make her a job?)

We need you to come on board with the core if you live in or near our target area (Oakwood or Flowery Branch), and if you don't we need your prayers! We would love to have some sponsoring churches. But we aren't set up just yet for that. We are in the process of applying for that with the SBC North American Mission Board. I would love to hear from you!

Branches Church

Why would we need another church in Hall County, Georgia? Answer: We don't. We have a lot of choices available for anyone that wants to go to church, but in Flowery Branch and Oakwood, we don'thave a church for people who don't want to go to church. That is why I want to help start one.

Drum roll please...this is why I am working with a group of people to start what for this new stage is called Branches Church. It is an environment in the spirit of North Point Ministries where you can invite your friends, thinking and non to a gathering of people and have them introduced to a growing relationship with Christ.

Now, we just need a launch team. A launch team is a group of people from area churches that are willing to come help launch the church for a decided period of time. Positions are: 1. People to just come, be friendly, tithe for a season, and have fun. 2. People to help with the Children's Ministry (affectionately called The Treehouse) 3. We don't have any thing to set up as of yet, but we will need a set up team. 4. A worship team because I personally can't sing or play any instruments!

So, pray about it, think on these things, and come on, it will be fun :).

The Book of Eli

I watched a fantastic rated R movie tonight. The Book of Eli. It was like watching a classic western/course in apologetics(the defense of a Biblical Worldview)wrapped into one. I've spent the last five years scratching my head, watching friends make interesting decisions that a younger me would have shouted loudly at them for, and trying to figure out why people get a way with doing the wrong thing while I still plod along sometimes less than blissfully thinking that Biblical Worldview + Moral Absolutes is right even if it costs me. Please don't take that last phrase as self righteousness because it isn't intended that way. But I just want to know if I am stupid or not for doing the right thing when it costs a whole lot!
The Book of Eli really was outstanding because it coincided with several hard hitting books on apologetics that I was reading. Eli, Denzel Washington as a kick butt protagonist, follows a voice across a fallen post apocolyptic America, running from the bad guys. It turns out that the book he is carrying is actually the last copy of the Bible on earth. Eli takes a licking and keeps on ticking, all in the name of preserving this text!
It was even more amazing as a history buff, because Eli faced crazily similar situations that Martin Luther faced when he was originally making the Bible accessible to the masses. Luther unknowingly insighted revolts resulting in mass losses of life, ran from murderous Catholics (not to be confused with the nice ones I know), and even hid out in disguise. All for the sake of the Bible.
Knowing the reliability of the Bible, how to read it and apply it contextually, and holding on to grace and truth is the challenge of living a Biblical Worldview. This has been very hard for me in the last few years because I have found that the more I see what the text actually says, the less republican I am. The more I read what it actually says, the less compelled I am to be happy go lucky in the Christian Bubble. And the more I read what it actually says, the more I wonder why life is harder when you do the right thing!
At least I don't have to chop anyones head off or shot them to protect the last copy on earth like Eli, but like Eli, I want to have a passion to stick to that voice inside that guides and protect the book with passion. Its a journey for us all, costly, yet worth it.

The Selfless Gene

Charles Foster's book "The Selfless Gene" has a unique approach and title. However, it's ability to reach the scientific layman ends abruptly there. He is a talented writer with words that flow well enough, but not being in his mind left me very incapable of figuring out what he was saying. And that is saying a lot. I can handle difficult texts, yet this one left me with only the vague idea of its premise, that evolution could be possible and coincide with Christianity at the same time. I need a text that explains the circumstances and arguments while giving me the definitions. If you want a book that you can understand, don't purchase this one. If you want one that will give you 1000 explanations that leave more questions than answers, then "The Selfless Gene" is your book!

The White Horse King

I love all things British—all things traditionally British. Picking up Benjamin Merkle’s The White Horse King, I really didn’t know what to expect. I had never heard of a King Alfred, much less one that involved the British Isles. To my delight, the book was really good! I learned all about Viking and Anglo-Saxon’s warring development. I also saw the way that England was formed as a singular nation-state. The in depth, yet basic descriptions brought to my mind the ever present need for quality, educated leadership. I was left impressed and inspired.
As with most nation’s pre-formal unification, the Anglo-Saxon area had many divisions. There were multiple regions with no standing army, leaving the areas wealth easily attacked. Alfred faced the onslaughts of raging Vikings, lost his throne, fled to the woods, and came out in secret attacks. He then arranged the armies in a large enough way to take back his throne, organize for a standing army and unofficial police force ensuring proper defense.
In the years of peace that followed, Alfred was able to use his studies of the humanities to spear head education and to raise the first navy. All of this in feudal times with viking threats!
If you are looking for an exciting, fast paced read that will cause you to think about leadership, this book is for you!