Joel Young Blog.com

One of the things that I have learned during my time as a preacher is that it is extremely hard to do well week in, and week out. I’m not really sure how well I’ve done or what level I’m at in my pursuit of this, but I know that God is making me a better preacher every time I step out to share the truth of His Word.

Steven Furtick shared a great principle for preaching on his blog the other day that it took me a long time to get through my head. Preachers, you need to read this short but insightful post.

CLICK HERE to check out the post “They’ve heard that before” by Steven Furtick.

Today I was watching the PGA Championship online when I heard something I had never heard before. Tiger Woods was once again leading the field. He has won the last two weeks of tournaments and, in my opinion, is playing the best golf he has played since he’s come back from the knee injury. He was running on all cylinders and it was great to watch. But, while Tiger and his caddy Steve Williams were debating on a club selection for a shot, one of the announcers said that Steve Williams told him in an interview that he sometimes lies to Tiger about a yardage to get him to hit the club he wants him to hit.

Understandably, I almost fell off my chair when I heard this. I would think that of all people Tiger Woods wouldn’t need his caddy lying to him to make sure he hits the right club. I would think that the man who has 70 career PGA Tour wins could pick the right club without anyone’s help. I would think Tiger would want the truth every time. Wouldn’t you?

The more I thought about this, the more I realized how valuable the relationship between Tiger and Steve is. They are very close, both professionally and personally. They both have the utmost confidence in each other’s ability. And, Steve is not afraid to push Tiger to another level of greatness by walking the line.

Here’s the question I have been pondering as a result of this revelation. Do I have anyone around me who knows how to tell me a “good lie”? Do I have anyone around me who knows me well enough, cares about me enough, and isn’t afraid to push me when necessary even when it means telling me a “good lie”?

I’m not at all advocating lying to people for your own personal gain, or to get them to do what you want them to do, but my eyes have definitely been opened to the value of a “good lie” from a trusted comrade. I think we all need those people who, whether they ever have to lie to you or not, we trust enough to allow them to push us to the next level even if it means they are walking a thin line of appropriateness.

While listening to some sermons this morning I heard JD Greear from Summit Church tell this story.

Our church is made of up nearly 1/3 college students so we are uniquely poor. In fact, I once had an ushers come to me between our two services with an offering bucket that had a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit in it with a little note on it that said, “Silver and gold I have none, but what I have give I unto you.”

Somehow, I feel like he was predicting my future, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Pretty scary, right? I was browsing through one of my favorite sites today when I came across some “Home Inspection Nightmares,” and I couldn’t help but look. They’re all pretty funny, but not for a guy who is currently going through home inspections. I mean, I’ve found some pretty ridiculous things in the houses I have rehabbed before, but nothing comparable to these. You’ll have to check out the pictures and stories to see what I’m talking about.

Check it out the full list by CLICKING HERE.

Well, there have been a lot of things that have been, and still are, a long time coming in the Young household, but today I’m referring to our search for a home as it officially ended yesterday. Over a year of looking and many frustrating situations later we found a great piece of earth on which to raise kids, make memories, and retreat from the world. This is a pretty big deal for our family, and in many ways solidifies our move to this area as we continue our work with Horizon.

Big thanks to everyone who has prayed for our search, stored our junk, or listened to our frustrations along the way. You helped us through and, pending inspections, it’s finally over. As most people said yesterday, “It’s time for a PARTY.”

I would agree.

This morning as I was checking on some Tweets I ran across this little nugget from Steven Furtick that I thought deserved all the attention it could get.

“Some churches are like mushroom farms: the people are kept in the dark and fed manure.”

Do your part to make sure that the church never becomes a “mushroom farm”.

Last night was family movie night in the Young household. Most of the time Jenna and I will wait until the Reedmister goes to bed before we start a movie, but he’s growing up and is really starting to like movies. He loves to watch movies with animals in them. His first movie to watch entirely was “Happy Feet,” and he laughed through the whole thing. He just has this absolutely wonderful and contagious laugh that will cause you to laugh whether the movie is funny or not. So, we usually try to pick a movie that will make him laugh, and last night we ended up watching Disney’s “Bedtime Stories” with that intention. I was skeptical at first, but it really was a great family movie. We all enjoyed it, but as you’ll hear Reed enjoyed it the most. FYI – This was his response to the DVD menu. The movie had not even started at this point.

WARNING: Go to the bathroom before you listen to this.

If you’ve been in a modern church over the last five years, chances are you have been offended. Some of you have been offended because you were convicted of sin (that’s good), but some of you have been offended because a preacher tried to be edgy and crossed the line of appropriateness (that’s not good). I truly believe that this is a slippery slope for many young guys, like myself, and so I really appreciated the words that I read this morning from Craig Groeschel. Check it out.

Craig Groeschel – “When Edgy Becomes Offensive”

Ask yourself…

Would it be okay with you if the church you attend was MAJORLY altered today; if it meant more people would be reached with the gospel of Jesus Christ?

Would it be okay with you if you had to give up your personal preferences and comfort; if it meant seeing someone come to Christ?

I STRONGLY believe that if you cannot answer all of these questions with an emphatic, “YES!” then you have some serious re-evaluation of your faith to do. Jesus did not come to this earth and die to create church goers. He came that we might know Him and experience the redemptive power of His grace.

If you call yourself a Christian then you need to read this article. It has me thinking very deeply about the labels that followers of Christ have come to wear and how that is affecting the world’s ability to identify with Jesus Christ.

Read “I’m Through with Christianity” by Geoff Surratt