Sunday, November 12, 2006

New Feed

Quick reminder, I've moved my blog, I keep getting a lot of folks visiting this site, so please update your links, subscribe to my new feed:

New Blog: http://chrismarlow.wordpress.com

Also, here is the new rss feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/MusingsByMarlow

Click on it, and you will automatically be given a choice on what newsreader you want to use, like google reader or bloglines etc.

Thank you so much.

Saturday, November 11, 2006

I'M MOVING AGAIN

...not cities silly...Just my blog. HA!

You can now find me on my new blog: http://chrismarlow.wordpress.com/

I tried to personalize it a little more, so I hope you like it. Also, you can grab the new feed when you visit the new blog.

Take the trip now...And thanks for reading.

Peace & Love from Austin.

Friday, November 10, 2006

Lost

So the mid-season finale is over...Lot's of possibilities for sure. So far season 3 has been a bit of a bummer. It's good, but not great. To me is seems to lack focus, too many things going on. Also, I'm getting a little tired of the "others" holding the trinity (Kate, Sawyer, Jack) hostage. Come on folks move on would ya?

The new characters have not been developed, we have no clue who the "others" are yet.

Also, not sure about the 3 month hiatus. I could see them taking a month or six weeks...But 3 months, that seems LONG...Plus ratings are down...Criminal Minds was 7Th in the ratings and Lost was 12TH, kinda of surprising.

You kind of wonder what direction they (the powers that be) are going to take Lost. Especially after season three.

BTW, I like watching lost on DVD. I could watch a whole season in 2-3 weeks. Maybe this type of format will be the TV of the future?

Thursday, November 09, 2006

Isn't She Beautiful?

This lovely, frustrating, intoxicating, painful, hard, compelling mystery called church and why she's worth dying for.


That's right, Rob Bell and the fine folks of Mars Hill Bible Church are FINALLY doing a conference. I'm hoping to go. The quote above really paints a great picture of the church. Anyhow, for more info click on the link:

Isn't She Beautiful?

BTW-Yes she is!!!

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Blog Change

Well...I got to tell you, I'm not all that impressed with blogger beta. I think it's time for a change. So, I'm getting my new blog ready via Wordpress. I love the layout and feel of Wordpress. But I really did not want to change.

Anyhow, I got some cool things that I want to do my new blog. So we shall see if I stay focused and get the job done.

So for those that stop by here every now and then, I wanted to say thanks and I will update you as soon as the job is done.

BTW-The free version of NBA League Pass is now over. Maybe I will not get to bed earlier now. I'm glad I can not watch every Laker game, I would never get anything done!

Change

So the elections are over...THANK YOU JESUS! So tired of hearing all these lame commercials that do nothing but degrade other people. Anyhow, the Dem's will now take over the House and the Senate is still up in the air, so here are my thoughts:

- No matter the outcome, God is in control, and that is a good thing!
- Jesus was neither a Republican or Democrat, so for those who are Christian, and maybe you think "we" lost, that is not the case.
- I think the church needs to start worrying more about herself, than Government.
- Maybe...Just maybe, the Dem's will bring value and balance to the Prez???
- IMHO, Change is a good thing-I think we need change, a fresh voice and perspective.
- Also, I think the changes that are taking place in the political landscape will cause a greater level of accountability. Which is needed and good!

Honestly, I think the church has to see the issues that we face as a nation and world and respond in a way that is Kingdom oriented. We've got to stop assuming that if we elect the right people in office, then change will take place.

Thinking out loud here, but maybe the greatest problem with the world is not politicians, evil, religion, etc...

Maybe the problems that the world faces is caused by a weak church, a church that has forgot it's priorities and mission. I'm not necessarily talking about the institutional church, but what I'm really talking about is me, and maybe you.

Because it's our job to live out God's mission in our world. And if every Christian saw themselves in this light, the world will be a much better place. And this is why I love the church, because I see the potential; the hope that we can bring to the world, the love that can cause forgiveness and healing, the resources that can eradicate poverty and disease, the message that can mend families and relationships, the wealth that can be distributed and shared.

The world will only become better...When every Christ-follower steps up to the plate and begins to live out their faith everyday. We have to be fed up with the evil that exists, fed up with the poverty that runs rampant, fed up with consumerism that has become a national tragedy, fed up with our nationalistic views of the Christian story, as if others who do not live in our "borders" our not apart of our family or mission.

Another words...I need to look in the mirror today, and everyday and pray that God will help me stay on mission. The reason the world has so many issues is because of Christians like me, who have yet to truly live for Jesus in the way that Jesus called me to live!!!

Maybe Someday

Man I would do anything to be in Australia, Japan or Hawaii because of this.

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

At Last

...We've finally found a church. It was random (or sovereign), the cool thing is the location-1 mile from our apt. The pastor is cool, he preached his entire message with no notes. (that is not easy) Great organic worship-the presence of God was evident.

The church has been around for close to a year and they've already planted another church. Which is growing like gremlins in water.

This is a multi-generational church, which is nice, lot's of energy and our kids can connect with other kids and Necole and I can connect and build community.

We attended community group last night-Lot's of fun, very real and we enjoyed the interaction.

So Necole and I will lock down and attend and serve. Looking forward to it.

BTW-The church is called Vista Community Church.

Monday, November 06, 2006

Monday Musings

It's sad and ironic, but truth be told, seeing the fall of Ted Haggard has driven me to my prayer closet. I just keep asking God to help me to be a man of character, to walk in humility and to make sure I have people who can speak into my life and hold me accountable.

(Of course the Laker loss last night almost drove me to my prayer closet, but that's another story-Every Laker game to me is like game 7 in the world series or something. Yes, I know I'm sad. Usually I'm so happy when summer comes, because I no longer have to stress about the Lakers *sigh*)


Erwin McManus has some great and thought-provoking things to say about the church and leadership in general. I gotta say, I really dig Erwin philosophy of ministry.

Mark Driscoll did not take long to throw his .02 in regards to Ted Haggard and pastors in general. While he has some good wisdom, he also baffles me with quotes like the one below. Of course in his eyes I'm just a little blogger with nothing to do...And of course he hates being criticized, but then he says these types of statements and the blog world lights up with folks like me who really have no clue why he would say this off the cuff.

Like I said before, I respect Mark, I just sometimes wonder if he really needs to be "in the thick of things" all the time. I'm just not sure you can express sensitive information like this via the blogworld, especially when you have a platform like Mark does.


Most pastors I know do not have satisfying, free, sexual conversations and liberties with their wives. At the risk of being even more widely despised than I currently am, I will lean over the plate and take one for the team on this. It is not uncommon to meet pastors’ wives who really let themselves go; they sometimes feel that because their husband is a pastor, he is therefore trapped into fidelity, which gives them cause for laziness. A wife who lets herself go and is not sexually available to her husband in the ways that the Song of Songs is so frank about is not responsible for her husband’s sin, but she may not be helping him either.