The Prize

Will your prize be destroyed one day, or will your prize last forever? Listen to the words of the Apostle Paul.

I refuse to be disqualified!

²⁴ Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. ²⁵ Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. ²⁶ Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. ²⁷ No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.  1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Refuse to be disqualified!

Thanks to Michael Hyatt:

What app has had the biggest (positive) impact on me this year? No, it’s not Angry Birds or Words with Friends! It’s You Versions FREE Bible App. It was the 33rd most downloaded free iPhone App and 100th most downloaded free app for the iPad. It has great features and interface.  I will be reading through the entire Bible again this year, but I will be keeping track of my progress on this app. Why don’t you join me? What was your favorite app of 2011?

follow them on Facebbook

Follow on Twitter

Download here for almost ANY device

 
If you want to see the rest of the top 100 downlaods from Itunes click here

Don’t get me wrong, I am a huge Tim Tebow fan, but I was listening to some guy on the radio explain how big and amazing God is because The Denver Broncos have won a few games with Tebow at the helm.  It made me think that something is really wrong with our God-perspective when winning a football game becomes a crucial indicator of how big God is. True, we give thanks to God for all good things, and football is one of them, but I am humbling submitting that we (me too) have lost a little perspective?

So, last night, while Rachel was out doing some late night shopping, and the kids were asleep, I put together some of NASA’s public domain images, from Hubble and the ISS, and made a little video (3:00).  Com’-on you have 3 minutes, don’t you?

I hope this video will remind you today just how BIG God really is and that His grace and love for us is immeasurable. At least try to make it to the transition at minute 2:15 and see who shows up in the credits! If you like the video, please consider passing it around the web a little, thanks!

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. Genesis 1:3

Special credit to NASA for making these images public domain for the world to experience.  Also, thanks to Gungor for making amazing music that has brought many of us closer to God! Lastly, if you are curious how they get the color in these pictures check out this excellent article by Slate.com.

Help me out! I want to see by an ANONYMOUS poll how much parents are spending on their children’s presents this year.  So, do me a favor and click the box that best describes you.  If you’re a student, young adult, or an adult w/out children tell me how much you think your parents spend/spent on you. (questions 3&4)

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Leave a comment if you feel like I haven’t asked the question right or need a clarification on something. Also, feel free to come back in a couple of days to help me synthesize the data! Fun!

Hey, what about my present? (ha.) Please sign up to get The Ordained Barista delivered directly to your RSS Reader, or get notified about new posts through your email! Thanks, and Merry Christmas!

Well, this is the exact question that a group of four woman from Ohio asked each other one day while sitting around the kitchen table having a cup of coffee. What did they come up with? What words of encouragement and divine inspiration would the savior of the world share with us today?

Watch this video to find out.

Yep, you heard it correctly.

“I miss hearing hearing you saying Merry Christmas.”

These very sincere woman believe that God is pretty miffed that so many people, in order to be politically correct, are saying “happy holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.” Now, again, don’t get me wrong.  It’s a very nice sentiment, and you do have to admire the gumption of these woman for not just letting the momentum of their belief fizzle out.  To their credit, they felt strongly enough about it that they had a billboard designed to convey this message, but I would respectfully disagree with them that, “I miss hearing you say Merry Christmas” would be Jesus’ message today.

What message do you think Jesus would have for the world today, that he might share with you over a cup of coffee?  I would love to see a good conversation about this get started, so I can chime in too! Oh, and I almost forgot…..

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

P.S. Are you wondering what to get me for Christmas? Simple! Please sign up to get The Ordained Barista delivered directly to your RSS Reader, or get notified about new posts through your email! Thanks, and Merry Christmas!

A Latte Love

This is a pretty cool story. I have said for many years that the coffeehouse has a uniquely relational atmosphere to it, and is just an incredible place to care for people, in a non threatening way, wherever they are in life. I love the fact that the bride describes the Baristas as “family”, and that they took care of her with coffee and “powerfully kind words” while her fiance was deployed. True, this story is about a wedding, but it’s also about a lot more. It’s about caring, service and taking the time to hear the story that other people are living.

Think about who you can invite out to a cup of coffee this Christmas season.  (Not in the the romantic sense, but in the caring to catch up with them sense.) This week, with whom do you need to find out “How life is going”? Who knows where the conversation may lead. Who knows how you may serve!

Are you wondering what to get me for Christmas? Simple! Please sign up to get The Ordained Barista delivered directly to your RSS Reader, or get notified about new posts through your email! Thanks, and Merry Christmas!

Source

Friends, we live in a new era.

A few weeks ago Sean Quigley was you average teenage student and aspiring musician.  Today he is a YouTube viral superstar! Sean’s catchy rendition of The Little Drummer Boy is approaching 1 million views and should get there before Christmas.

What is equally amazing is that the Winnipeg teen plays all the instruments on the track, and shot/edited the video with the help of his sister and a Canon video camera!

We are living in a new era!

The catchy video also pays tribute to the song’s message about the true spirit of Christmas. That resonated deeply with Quigley, a Christian teen who plays drums in his local church.

“About a month ago I started thinking about this song,” said Quigley.

“It’s the story of a little boy going to find Jesus and not having any gifts to bring — he just plays his drum. That spoke to me so much,” he said.

Even the freshly fallen snow that covers Winnipeg’s streets seems made to order.

“God helped us out with the snow,” said Quigley. “The fact that it was perfect was a blessing.”

I love it when teens do awesome things!

Read more: http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Entertainment/20111205/Sean-Quigley-little-drummer-boy-youtube-111205/#ixzz1g8qU9AhS

Credit ctvnews.ca and Eric @ Churchm.ag

The Christmas Story: 140 Characters At A Time

Ok, for a little Friday fun I thought I would send you a creative way to follow the Christmas story for the next 16 days.

From 1st December follow Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds, Wisemen and others on Facebook and Twitter. Get involved! Tell your friends and followers about The Natwivity.

Each 140-character entry will be a thought or comment from Mary, Joseph, Wise men and Shepherds, with further entries from Herod, an Inn Keeper (and his wife) and friends of Mary and Joseph.

You can follow natwivity on Twitter @natwivity and on the Natwivity Facebook page.

In 2011, Natwivity are is promoting ‘Dress Up December’ encouraging people of all ages to dress up as characters from the Christmas Story – at schools, churches, work places or even have a Dress Up December party!

Natwivity is run by the UK based Share Creative.

Thanks to James @ churchm.ag for the link!

Yahoo has a great article out right now on the 12 scams of Christmas.  Can’t you just here the song in your head?

“…On the first scam of Christmas my true love gave to me a stolen Nintendo Wii”

(feel free to add a line from day 2-12 in the comment section below.)

Here is the list of the scams that Yahoo talks about in the article: Fake holiday help. Fake charities.  Fake check scams.  Counterfeit merchandise. Fake vacation rentals.  Nondelivery of stuff bought online.  Email scams.  Phishing scams.  Watch for the “items-off-of-a-truck” scam. Limited quantities.  Bait and switch. Layaway plans.

Although it was a great article they forgot THE ULTIMATE Christmas scam that millions and millions of people fall for every year, and it’s called the “stuff scam.” What is the stuff scam? Glad you asked. The stuff scam is when the media, and the culture we live in, convince us that the Christmas season is about stuff, and I fall for it every year! Remember, that Christmas is all about this FREE GIFT that we are offered, and that it all starts with the birth of the savior of the world!  Hallelujah!

Here are a couple of really good videos to get you in the right spirit! Remember to sign up to get the Ordained Barisita Delivered directly to you RSS reader or email! You will never know how much it helps!

On Nov.13 2010 unsuspecting shoppers got a big surprise while enjoying their lunch. Over 100 participants in this awesome Christmas Flash Mob. The face on the kid at 1:19 is great!

Check out this really cool video from Kuinerrarmiut Elitnaurviat 5th Grade class in Quinhagak, Alaska. They put together this Hallelujah Chorus video in about 10 hours, it went viral, and it now has over a million hits!

Is it just me, or do you have Christmas lights that didn’t make it from last year? They were working when I took them down, at the end of last year, and now —nothing! My neighbor, and good friend, loves conspiracy theories and he sincerely believes that the lights are intentionally made, by the manufacturers, to last 1 or 2 seasons, at the most, so we will keep buying new ones.

Anyway, I had several strands of lights that only about half the lights were working. It was my job was to see if I could find the bulb that was either broken or blown-out, right? If I could find that light bulb, and replace it, then the rest of the strand would light back up, as a result.

It made me start thinking about some of my “lights” that are blown out and, as a result, causing me to live, certain areas of my life, in darkness. So, if my light bulb of patience is busted, then perhaps the light (further down the strand) of “loving my kids” can’t light up as well? You get what I’m saying, right?

What light might be busted on your strand? Right now I’m working on patience and health “bulbs”, so that I can get my entire strand to light up! Feel free to add a dimension to Christmas Light Theology! What happens if none of your lights light up? What is the fuse? Are the colorful blinking lights the charismatic lights and the white lights the Presbyterians lights? Have some fun with it! Make sure to join our mailing list or get The Ordained Barista delivers directly to your reader.

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16