3 Reasons the Macbook Air Makes a Better Seminary Tool then the iPad

Three reasons why I won't be using my iPad in class.

Not on my desk...!

Let me start off by saying, I am a huge Apple fan. In fact, I liked Apple before they were considered cool.  My iPhone has literally changed my life.  I have accumulated enough Apple products to start a small Apple retail store in my community.  Heck, I even had an iPhone groom cake!

My wife and I both have iPad 2′s, and use them  - a lot. We use them to catch up on the news, show off our son, FaceTime with our family, and play tons of games!  However, I am currently finishing up my Masters of Theology degree at Dallas Theological Seminary, and haven’t found my iPad to be a very useful tool in my academic studies.

In fact, I’ve found my Macbook Air to be a far superior tool and here are three reasons why:
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“Only those leaders who act boldly in times of crisis and change are willingly followed.”

- Jim Kouzes

Theology and Down Syndrome: Reimaging Disability In Late Modernity

Down Syndrome and Theology and God BookOn December 15, 2010 our life was forever changed when we learned our son, Noah, was born with Down Syndrome.  As a theologian and youth pastor, my mind was immediately flooded with million theological questions.  I wanted to find as much down syndrome information as I could.

According to Psalm 139, “God knit together” my son.  So did that mean that God knit together my son with “disability?”

Which lead my to my next question – who defines “disability?”  I mean, yes, Noah was born with an extra copy of his 21st chromosome, but who determined how many 21st chromosomes a person is “supposed” to have anyway?

The last time I checked I didn’t see any mention of genetics in The Bible.  Did God knit Noah together to accomplish some sort of special work that He wanted to accomplish through him, and our family?

And of course this list of questions quickly lead to me down a never ending theological rabbit trail; and it didn’t help that I knew of no pastors, or ministry leaders that were in my shoes.

I was trusting God like never before, but I desperately wanted some theological answers…!

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“Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand time.”

-Martin Luther

Do you remember your first time?

first time one

All of this talk about the end of the world got me thinking about my first time. I was excited. I was nervous. What if I did something wrong? What if no one cared afterwards? What if I said the wrong things? What it be the end of the world for me?
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“Faith is permitting ourselves to be seized by the things we do not see.”

-Martin Luther

Harold Camping was wrong…but Jesus isn’t.

It looks like harold camping got it wrong, no rapture on may 21 2011.

Oooops...he was wrong.

Well it is past 6 p.m. on May 21, 2011, and if you are reading this one of two things has happened; 1. Harold Camping was right; the rapture has already occurred and you were left behind; or, 2. Harold Camping was wrong and you can enjoy seeing Justin Timberlake hosting Saturday Night Live tonight!
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“When the author walks onto the stage, the play is over.
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Second Coming of Jesus Christ, Tomorrow…

…or MONDAY, or TUESDAY, or WEDNESDAY, OR 2047, OR……

may 21 judgement day rapture

By now you have probably heard the name “Harold Camping” of Family Radio and his spectacular claim that the rapture is coming this Saturday; May 21, 2011, followed by the end of the world on October 21, 2011. He has placed billboards all over the United States, appeared on countless news interviews, and has caused lots of folks to ask, “What’s the deal with everyone saying the end of the world is happening on Saturday?”  As a youth minister / youth speaker, and seminary student; (as if those things some how make me a know it all of all things Biblical….they don’t by the way….) I am often asked to shed some light on seemingly confusing subjects such as this, and it is with that intent I hope to briefly clarify a few things.
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Social Media and The Church

Back in 2009 I used the video above called, “Do You Know” as a sermon illustration in one of my messages. I also posted the video in a blog post which to this day is still one of my top ten blog posts of all time.
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“The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.”

- Jack Kerouac (Apple Computer)

cuteness explosion

cute baby noah

I don’t know what all God put in that extra 21st chromosome that Noah was born with, but I’m certain crazy amounts of cuteness is part of it….!
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“You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you. Continue Reading…

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

-Martin Luther King

Great day for Noah

noah physical therapy our childrens house baylor dallas

Today was jammed packed with appointments for our little Noah, but it was equally as packed with ‘praise reports’ as we visited each of his doctors/therapists.
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