Random thoughts of thinking?

"Does anyone read this?" is the question that is flowing through my head as I write this week, thinking "I only have 4 followers." I know I send this out in email form as well, but it comes to reason that if only 4 people have signed up to "read" this, then maybe I need to rethink the whole blog thing. Or, maybe my thoughts actually mean something to those who read it. If so, I guess let me know so I can continue to write this for you, "the faithful four." If you haven't yet read this but are reading for the first or maybe second time, welcome inside my head. Come on in and have a seat, there is limited room to move as usual. Those who know me well know that there is constant thinking going on, even to the point of maybe overthinking. I really don't have any more room to cram anything else in, but I know that there are countless things waiting in line somewhere around my eardrum, longing to find their place into my thinking. Why do I know this is true? That's because everyday, I evaluate where I am at, and where I want to be. I certainly have not attained the highest level, like Paul said in Philippians, but I am continually growing and learning; ready to allow the Spirit to stretch me to an unimaginable state. So here is what I have come up with; it's time to make room for something different, something new. Here is my "thought" of the day. I know that the Bible itself is still very relevant today, but does preaching actually still work. Should our growing in the faith be in some other form; more relational, more musical, more influential? If it's true that Sunday School, Bus Ministry, and Revivals no longer pull their weight, does that mean that we need to rethink preaching in general; not the preacher, but the preaching. I understand that it is very scriptural that we gather as a church to meet and build eachother up, but are people still making the same "emotional" life choices at altars today as they were 40 years ago? I would say no. People don't have the same "spiritual" tune (ear would fit here too) that they used to have; therefore those emotional altar choices aren't happeneing nearly as frequently. Don't get me wrong, preaching is still very effective in discipling the church-body and for influencing Christians to make re-commitments and life choices; i just don't think it really works for "evangelism" anymore. So comes the next question, and the next challenge for me personally and for you as students. I am setting a goal today to make my ministry much less "service-oriented" and much more "relationship-oriented." If i ever expect to win the lost students of Scott County, it is going to be through friendship and influence, and not through "preaching conviction." Your challenge this week is not only to help me by influencing your friends, but also to keep this life-changing though in front of me. Challenge me to keep up my end of the deal and understand that making students feel special is so much more important than writing the "perfect" message to un-saved students who aren't responding anyways. I want your help! I need your help! As long as this was, I feel like it was worth every word. Now Respond!!!!!!!

Albums of Choice?

Since i haven't really been feeling the whole blog thing this week, mostly because you heard my heart on Sunday night (those of you who were there), i wanted to present to you a list of Albums that have shaped who i am today. They are (in no particular order, maybe):

DC Talk- Jesus Freak
DC Talk- Supernatural
Newsboys- Take me to You Leader
Newsboys- Going Public
The Waiting- Self-Titled
Hillsong United- United We Stand
Hillsong United- All of the Above
Third Day- Self-Titled
All Star United- Self-Titled
Skillet- Ardent Worship
Skillet- Comatose
Hawk Nelson- Smile
Grits- The Art of Translation
Audio Adrenaline- Bloom
Fred Hammond- Speak Those Things
Rich Mullins- Songs
Switchfoot- The Legend of Chin
Jeremy Camp- Stay
Jason Upton- Faith
Leeland- Opposite Way
OC Supertones- Supertones Strike Back
Brooklyn Tabernacle- High and Lifted Up
Casting Crowns- Self-Titled
Jars of Clay- Self-Titled

This list is nowhere near exhaustive. There are even some that were hard to admit. Challenge: make your list and send it back to me.