Let the madness begin!

It's that time of the year again...when the temperature gets warmer and the days get longer. It also means it's March Madness time! This year, test your bracket skills against those you see every week at church.

Go to www.espn.com and after you fill out your bracket, join the "Brainerd Baptist Boys" group. Let the madness begin.

--Collin

And now for the weather...

I love to laugh. I'm not sure how long this guy stayed a weatherman but it was fun while it lasted.

The American Dream and a Wasted Life

At one time the American dream was a house with a white-picket fence, two kids and a dog. Over the years that dream has morphed into something else. Now, the house, kids, dog, and job that pay for them (well...maybe not the kids) all seem to be steps to the new American dream...Retirement!

Stay with me. As a 30 year old who's been working since I was 15, I have been taught the importance of saving for retirement. Now I'm not against saving for retirement or preparing for the future, but what kind of future. Everywhere you turn the new American dream is espoused, a life of leisure and relaxation devoid of work and pain.

The problem with this goal is that it is not supported by Scripture. When you study God's word in an effort to find out how you should spend your life, the words, "leisure", "relaxation", even "retirement" are nowhere to be found. I would like to offer up the idea that instead of saving money all our lives toward a goal of "retirement", that we would do better to save resources during our career years toward the goal of "mission". I hope that when the time comes that I no longer work a regular Monday through Friday (or Sunday) job, that I will have saved enough money to do whatever I want. What I want is to be able to go on mission trips with my church, help feed people in India, dig a well in Africa, give money (a lot) to whatever building project the church we serve in is involved with, and in general have the financial freedom to serve Christ however he leads.

God, keep me from wasting my life on the pursuit of a retirement
defined by leisure and relaxation.

For a great message on not wasting your life, click here.

--Collin

"...Your chosen precious child..."

All of our soloists at Brainerd Baptist Church are tremendously talented and bless me whenever they sing but Melissa's song tonight was special. This modern treatment of "Alas, and Did My Savior Bleed" really fit in perfectly with remembering Jesus' death by taking communion. I was reminded once again how amazing it is that God would give the life of his son to pay my sin debt. That I can be called his "chosen precious child" brings me to my knees in humble gratitude.

Melissa has been fighting sickness this week and for her to sing tonight was a testimony to her spirit. Thank you Melissa for your song.

--Collin

The Gathering

This Sunday night, March 4, Curtis and I will have the privilege of sharing all the details of the new simulcast service. We'll explain the new Sunday morning schedule and how you can get help us launch the simulcast. As a special sneak preview to BBCblog readers, here's what the new service's logo and graphics look like.

Here is a great article to get you thinking about why we're starting our video venue in the BX on April 1. It's written by Dr. Ed Stetzer, a missiologist at the North American Mission Board and one of my favorite SBCers.

--Collin

Hebrews 9 & 10

The pastor read a portion from Hebrews 10 tonight in the service. It reminded me of a video of Ryan Furguson reciting Hebrews 9 & 10 at this year's WorshipGod conference at Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, MD. It helped me understand this passage of scripture in a different way by hearing it as if it was being preached or communicated orally by the author. Check it out.

--Collin

Glory

I came home from church tonight and in trying to unwind from my normal Sunday-energy high, found the movie Glory on TV. I love this movie. The soundtrack is one of the best of all time and many of my favorite actors are in the film. It's hard to imagine a time when hate and bigotry was as blatant as is portrayed in this movie about the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment during the Civil War. As soon as I think that thought though, I'm reminded that bigotry is not relegated to a time of slavery.

If we are not aware of the potential for racism and bigotry in each of us then we are as vulnerable as any of the racists in the movie. The Bible teaches us that we are completely depraved and our natural tendency is not towards love and acceptance but rather hate and bigotry. It is only because of God's gracious kindness towards us that we have been saved from our sin.

God keep us from the sin of racism. Whether black or white, Asian or Indian, we were all made by you and loved by you. May our church be a reflection of the congregation of worshipers around your throne, made up of every nation and every tribe.

--Collin

Sunday Reflections

What a great day.

Sundays are always exhausting but for some reason I can never get to sleep early, I think it's all the energy that goes into Sunday. Anyway, I was just thinking about how great today was and how much I love worshiping God with the people of our church.

The day got off to an interesting start when the choir director got "off" by one beat during the choir opener. I'm going to have to talk to him about that : ) Our very talented musicians covered the mistake of course and the rest of the service went off without a hitch. Heather Shaw did a tremendous job in the 2nd service introducing us to the Todd Fields' song, "Help Me to Find You". What a great song to get us thinking about our intimacy with God. Thank you Heather.

Tonight I enjoyed leading worship that included a couple of my favorite hymns. "Come Thou Fount" and "Be Thou My Vision" are some great old songs to me because of their prayerful message and timeless style. I must say I was shocked to see the hands raised when the pastor asked how many people had never sung "Be Thou My Vision". The theology and artistry of great hymns like this should be preserved, even as new songs and modern music is made. Maybe that's why I love efforts like this to bring songs like this to the 21st century.

Well, God was present in our worship today. I hope you were.

--Collin

Look Mom, no music!

We had another great choir rehearsal last night! I probably could have said that every Thursday for the past 4 years but the last few have really been special. You see, even though the choir may have looked the same the last two weeks something was different... the music was memorized!

Now that may not seem like a big deal to you but you're sitting in the pew listening so let me just tell you, it's big! I'm so proud of you choir. Your willingness to work extra hard to memorize your music has made a huge difference in how you sound and the expressions on your faces. Thank you.

Now, if you're not singing in the choir right now, why not? The choir is the best place I know for anyone who enjoys music to use that for God. Not everyone can play an instrument or preach a sermon but anyone can sing in the choir!

Stop waiting for your schedule to clear or your life to become less complicated, it's not going to happen. Come to choir rehearsal this Wednesday at 6:30pm and we'll find you a friend to sit with. It will be great!

"Shout for joy to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name;
give to him glorious praise!"
Psalm 66:1-2

--Collin

Welcome to the Blog

Let me officially welcome you to the BBC Blog. I believe our jump into the blogosphere could be a great way for you to get to know your staff better and allow us another way to communicate with you.

If you're new to the whole blog-thing, welcome. I look forward to using this media to discuss church, faith, and life issues with you.

Collin

That Summertime Feeling!

In an effort to bring a little sunshine into our lives during the colds days of January, we're having a big Bar-b-q dinner this Sunday night! That's right, we've been slow-smoking Boston butts and stocking up on wetwipes for a week now getting ready for this weekend.

If you haven't heard, this Sunday night at 6p.m. we're meeting at the BX for the kick-off of our Faith for 5,000 campaign. There will be free Bar-b-q for the first 2,000 people and big-band music for all. I can't wait to hear the UPtown Band jammin' on some great big-band tunes (you may even hear a bit of "Chattanooga Choo Choo"...).

I know around 60 ladies will just be getting back from the Retreat so men, treat your wife to dinner so she won't have to cook right away, bring her to the BX at 6:00 (just don't tell her the Bar-b-q is free!)

See ya there!

Collin