Zack on July 17th, 2009

A couple nights ago, we went to mom and dad’s to hang out and have dinner.
Josiah had cut a couple of teeth and added some new baby babble and an army crawl to his bag of tricks since they had last seen him, so we went and had some catfish and played some boccie ball [...]

Continue reading about The Bible Says What?

Zack on July 7th, 2009

I had a great time hearing all your thoughts on the birth control discussion last week!
Now it’s time to move on to chapter 2 of Religion Saves – And Nine Other Misconceptions.
In this chapter, pastor Mark Driscoll tackles the 8th most popular question:

Why do you make jokes about Mormon missionaries, homosexuals, trench coat wearers, single [...]

Continue reading about Religion Saves: Humor

Zack on April 22nd, 2009

There was a time in my life when I was somewhat into poetry.
I found it to be a good tool for exploring my thoughts and emotions, and also a good way to express them in a way that would make sense when looking back from the future.
I haven’t made time to sit down and try [...]

Continue reading about “Job, Part 4″ – A poem by John Piper

Zack on March 5th, 2009

I read this in the Scripture this morning, and I thought the ESV wording is really interesting:
The beginning of wisdom is this: get wisdom,
and whatever you get, get insight.

Continue reading about Proverbs 4:7

Zack on February 9th, 2009

Hey Everyone,
I know that a really random group of folks find their way here from time to time…
Some of y’all have been to various seminaries, or are even students now.
For a couple of years now, I’ve been trying to figure out what ot do with the nagging itch to take some seminary classes.
My dream is [...]

Continue reading about Any Advice?

Zack on January 27th, 2009

A while back, Mars Hill church did a series called ‘Doctrine‘. The series is 12 or 13 parts, and is designed to give new or young believers an overview of the major foundational beliefs of the Christian faith.
The last teaching in the series is called, “Kingdom: God Reigns“. In it, pastor Mark Driscoll teaches the [...]

Continue reading about Kingdom : God Reigns

Zack on January 22nd, 2009

We’re currently studying through the book of Acts with the youth at our church body.
A complete library of the teachings is available under downloads at www.CCRaleighYouth.com
Here are mp3’s of the teachings from the past couple of weeks (It’s me on the 1st and 3rd, and Mike Davis on the 2nd and 4th):

Acts 4:32-37 Generosity – [...]

Continue reading about Recent Youth Teachings

Zack on January 19th, 2009

Here’s a terrific post from Scott Knight at  TheResurgence casting some perspective on suffering.
This is from a pastor who is training to be an amateur ultimate fighter!
It starts like this:

As I write this blog, my body aches from the effects of training at a fight club with men who are much younger than I am. [...]

Continue reading about Suffering

Zack on September 23rd, 2008

Last night, I spent a couple of hours working on our son’s nursery. Afterwards, as I drove to the house where Steph and I are house sitting, I envisioned what the end product will be like, and I thought of the day when we’ll bring him home and enter the nursery and I’ll say, “Welcome [...]

Continue reading about “I go to prepare a place for you”

Zack on August 1st, 2008

Have you ever read Isaiah 53 from The Message? It’s powerful…
Several days ago,  I saw Los’ suggestion to check out this song, “Healer”. So I went to the link and heard the song, and watched the video about the story behind it.
And then I watched the performance of it.
…over and over and over again.
At the [...]

Continue reading about Isaiah 53

Zack on July 31st, 2008

I was reading in Luke 6 this morning. After Jesus pronounces His ‘blesseds’, He pronounces His ‘woes’:
24(AS) “But woe to you who are rich,(AT) for you(AU) have received your consolation.
25“Woe to you who are full now, for(AV) you shall be hungry.
“Woe to(AW) you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.”
And I asked myself, [...]

Continue reading about Reconciling the beatitudes with being American

Zack on July 10th, 2008

Brace yourself.

For the first time in a while, I’m making some time to write something somewhat meaningful here.

It’s strange. Although these past couple of weeks have had me busier than ever (lots of driving back and forth between Greensboro and Creedmoor and working really hard to get up to speed at work, plus [...]

Continue reading about What do you think?

Zack on May 18th, 2008

15But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for(A) many. 16And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For(B) [...]

Continue reading about Romans 5:15-21

Zack on May 15th, 2008

Yesterday, while working, I listened to a message by Rob Bell on Philippians 2:1-2 called “One Mind” (click here to download the mp3 :: click here to view the past 12 sermons from Mars Hill Church).
The talk was very interesting and certainly kept my attention. Rob even played highlight films of Larry Bird (a great [...]

Continue reading about Something I heard yesterday

Zack on April 4th, 2008

JDGreear from the Summit Church in Durham, NC, has a post titled “The Book Besides the Bible to Take If You Get Stranded On An Island”.
He begins like this:
G. K. Chesterton was once asked what one book he’d take if he were stranded on an island. He said a book about shipbuilding.
Other than that, [...]

Continue reading about A REALLY, REALLY strong book endorsement