Kendrick Vinar

This is an incredibly insightful and honest article. Jesus said that you’ll know a tree by its fruit. There is undeniable good fruit that is produced as people walk in the example left by Jesus: meeting practical needs (fighting for social justice) and meeting spiritual needs (preaching the gospel – that salvation is from and through Jesus Christ).

Article: As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God

This is the best tips and tricks that I’ve seen for the iPhone. Know how to take a screenshot of your iPhone? How about saving a photo while browsing in Safari? Instantly scroll to top of any screen? I think you’ll find something useful.

10 useful iPhone tips and tricks

Thanks Dwight Knoll for sending me this link.

I just finished three days of meetings with a group called Interlink. Interlink is six networks of churches that are endeavoring to cooperate in church planting, missions, and reaching the next generation. They are diverse in theology and style, but unified in heart and vision. The theme of the gathering was Courageous Leadership.

The most impressive thing to me was the character of the leaders. It’s amazing to see the humility and grace expressed by these type-A “change the world” leaders. They really prefer and honor one another. I couldn’t imagine a group of more down-to-earth yet passionate visionaries.

My favorite part of the three days was listening to Jeff Toomer, the Director of Operations from Manna Church in Fayetteville, NC, share about courage in leading troops into battle. Jeff served four tours in Iraq – from Dessert Storm to our current occupation. Forget politics for a minute… the honor and integrity of these men risking their lives to serve our country is humbling and very impressive. They train hard and prepare themselves. They put the mission first, then take care of one another and lastly put self.

Whiling serving in Iraq, Jeff listened by phone as his wife gave birth to his daughter half way across the world. I never missed a birth of one of my kids. I wonder what I was doing that evening? Sacrifice of self is needed to accomplish a great goal.

Michael Fletcher ended the session with a compelling challenge to himself (and all of us). He said, “As I lay my head down on the pillow tonight, I will determine that no other organization on the planet will be more prepared, more committed or more passionate to accomplish their mission than the church. We have greatest cause and mission.”

I received an email a couple days ago from someone who asked me, “What happens when Revolutionary Love goes bad?” The person went out on to describe how she had reached out with kindness and love to some in need. Her experience was not good. The person was not grateful and pressured her (with tears) into doing more. Her joy in giving turned into resentment and angry. On top of that she felt bad for feeling so “un-Christian”.

As I wrote her a response, I realized that her experience is quite common. Here is part of my email to her:

You have really reached out with love and kindness. Unfortunately, our acts of kindness of love are not always received with gratitude and a joyful spirit. One comforting thought is that the same thing happened to Jesus. In fact, Jesus tells us to expect it to happen and to not take it personally.

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.” (John 15:18-21 [show]<div class="esv"><h2>John 15:18-21 <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F43015018-43015021" width="40" height="12" class="audio"><param name="movie" value="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F43015018-43015021" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /></object></h2> <div class="esv-text"><h3 id="p43015018.01-1">The Hatred of the World</h3> <p id="p43015018.06-1"><span class="verse-num woc" id="v43015018-1">18&nbsp;</span><span class="woc">&#8220;If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.</span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v43015019-1">19&nbsp;</span><span class="woc">If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.</span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v43015020-1">20&nbsp;</span><span class="woc">Remember the word that I said to you: &#8216;A servant is not greater than his master.&#8217; If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.</span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v43015021-1">21&nbsp;</span><span class="woc">But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.</span> (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div>
)

The reason the person didn’t respond well to Revolutionary Love is because they don’t know Him who sent Jesus. It’s not personal! Interestingly Jesus tells us that we’re not supposed to give and give and give and give and get taken advantage of by that person. It’s okay to say “no”.

“And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.” (Matt 10:14 [show]<div class="esv"><h2>Matthew 10:14 <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F40010014" width="40" height="12" class="audio"><param name="movie" value="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F40010014" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /></object></h2> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p40010014.01-1"><span class="verse-num woc" id="v40010014-1">14&nbsp;</span><span class="woc">And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.</span> (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div>
)

The question is when do you “shake the dust off your feet”? For me it’s when I don’t feel joy in giving. I feel that my gift is like pearls being trampled upon. I don’t want to be generous anymore, and I’m tempted to do it only out of obligation or pressure. I don’t write that person off forever, but I realize that I’ve done my part. I trust that God will send someone else across their path or maybe I could do something for them at a later time, but for now… the healthiest and best thing I could do for them (and me) is to say “no”. It takes faith to trust God to be give, and it takes faith to trust God to not – to realize that God can reach that person other ways besides me.

Much grace to you. My heart and prayers are with you.

Keep spreading revolutionary love – as God leads and gives grace.

If you’d like a FREE (we all love that word) copy of John Piper’s book When I Don’t Desire God, you can download it here.

It’s a great book on how to cultivate a passionate spiritual life (which God commands us to have as John Piper points out). The book understands how we struggle, meets us there, and gives practical help.

On Monday we had a blast on the UNC campus spreading awareness about the crisis of water in the world. 1.1 billion people do not have access to clean safe drinking water.

We handed out over 3,000 cards with information about the need for clean safe drinking water and charity: water. Students walked with 5 gallon water jugs. It was amazing to see them realize how difficult it would be to haul water each day to provide for your family.

The Daily Tar Heel ran a great article on the water walk.

Will McFarlane was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame on Oct. 28th. 

The Raleigh N&O ran an article today about his induction. 

Way to go, Will. We’re proud of you. In case you don’t know… Will is one of our worship leaders and pastors at Grace Church. Here’s a link to the full article.

We just finished up a series on Revolutionary Love at Grace Church. The whole concept was that we’d look for ways to spread God’s love in a practical way – surprise someone with a random act of kindness.

The revolution is spreading… Loveland, CO is experiencing it as an epidemic.

Check out this spot on CNN: Starbucks Pays It Forward. (there’s a 30 sec. commercial to intro)

Thomas Friedman says that the world is flat – meaning (in short) that technology has leveled the playing field globally. Here’s a fun example of technology changing how things get done.

Google can inform the public two weeks before the Center for Disease Control about flu outbreaks.  

People want information about the flu when they’re getting sick, so they google something like “flu symptoms”. People don’t show up at the clinic for several days. The CDC needs to collect the information from clinics all around the nation before they can publish results. Meanwhile Google has had the information online HERE for free for two weeks. 

You can read more in this article.

With the 44th President of the United States elected we have an opportunity to pray and move forward with grace and humility. Below is an excellent article by Albert Mohler. I’d encourage you to read it and take it to heart.

America Has Chosen a President

Secondly, there’s an article on Forbes.com today that is also timely. May we honor and respect President-elect Barack Obama in a way far greater than our current President has been honored and respect.

The Treatment of Bush Has Been a Disgrace