This has been a great week for blog posts, it was really a challenge to narrow my list down, but here they are:

1. Ben Witherington III has become one my favorite writers.  I recently added his Socio-Rhetorical Commentary set to my Logos software and it has quickly become my go-to resource (for the New Testament books which are available).  Needless to say, I was very excited to find his blog.  Here is does a masterful job with the virgin birth.

2. During the difficult economic times we should all be asking ourselves WWAD (What would the Amish Do)?

3. Beyond Relevance has done an excellent series of posts concerning church marketing, starting with a video examining what would happen if Starbucks marketed like the church.  Here is this week’s offering on being better than the “shop down the road.”

4. Before the true Christmas rush hits, realize that the greatest gifts you can give cannot be bought in stores.

5. Church marketing has been a popular theme with a couple of the blogs that I read, but not everyone is a big fan of it.  Take Tony Morgan for example, who, a couple of weeks ago, suggested that churches should stop marketing.  This post helps clear up Tony’s true view on the matter.

6. I have not actually played the game yet, but the idea of teach kids about world poverty through an addictive game like this sounds like a winner to me!

7. This is from a new blog I have been reading, Stoned-Campbell Disciple.  Bobby’s thoughts express and connect many of the same thoughts I have been having since reading Jesus Wants to Save Christians by Rob Bell.  In this post Bobby is examining the pattern of Exodus throughout the Bible.

8. I have loved how so many of the things written on ProBlogger can be taken and applied to the church.  So if this is the only link you click on, take his advice and build a strategy for your community.

9. Sometimes it is the little things in ministry, which often go unnoticed, that make a big difference.

10. Gen-We. check it out how the next generation is making a difference. Thanks to the guys at Rethinking Youth Ministry who first wrote about this.

11. Honestly, this is from last week, but it was too good to pass up.  First, Mike Cope is speaking about one of my favorite paintings, but now I know, the rest of the story…

Again, sorry for such a long lists of links this weeks, but hopefully you will find something here that helps you in your walk with Christ.

Tags: Christianity, Church marketing, Links, Ministry

It may be that one of the best things I can do is refer you to some great blog posts that have had an impact on me this week.  On previous blogs I have tried to come up with 10 posts each week, but you know something, some weeks are slow, and there just aren’t ten great posts to share.  So here are my referrals for this week:

1. We will start off with a challenging one about a pastor who admits that he may not like all Christians.  You really have to read his points and not just the post title in order to understand.

2. While the church I am at has never sponsored a ONE Sabbath event, I have used the materials prepared by ONE in order to engage our congregation, particularly our teens, about global poverty and what we can do to help.

3. I have never thought about Peter walking on the water in this way before, so I appreciate a new viewpoint.

4.  There are two posts from Swerve’s series this week on being lukewarm that I felt were particularly great.  This first one talks about lukewarm pastors, but I beleive it could just as easily say lukewarm Christians, although for the one about sermon preparation you may want to substitute your yearly “daily” Bible reading. You know, the one that typically ends somewhere around Numbers.  The second one addresses leadership.  I firmly believe that you can only lead people as far as you have gone yourself, so if you are lukewarm, then most of the people under you will be as well.  Those that are “on fire” will typically be misunderstood by the leadership and will likely find other avenues for exploring and expressing their faith besides the avenues provided through the local congregation.

5. What advice would you have for this young minister?

Enjoy, have a great weekend!

Tags: Links, Mike Cope, ONE Sabbath, Swerve, Tony Morgan