andrew dodson

For the past few weeks, The Point has been doing a series called “What is a Missional Church?”  The idea behind being missional doesn’t involve getting on an airplane and flying to a third-world country.  Instead, it means letting your neighbors, family, friends, co-workers, grocery store cashiers, newspaper delivery person, mailman, and everyone else in your life see Jesus Christ through you.  It starts with YOU being a missionary in your own culture.  We can transform our communities by being missional.

Today was part four of the series, and we were blessed to have Andy Lawrence speak today.  Andy did a great job, and seemed to be a hit.  I encourage all of you to listen to Andy’s message and hear more about being missional.  His main point - what’s your excuse?  Why aren’t you being missional?

I’ve launched the new Master’s Church website.  I didn’t design it, but instead used a church-related Wordpress theme and customized it for Master’s.  I’ve added most of the content, and I’ll be helping them to add the rest, and they will be keeping it maintained.  I will offer my support for when they have questions about Wordpress, of course.  Go check it out - and if you’re looking for a church in the Lexington area, go visit them!

At long last, I’ve finally launched my new site design.  It’s still fairly basic as far as looks go, but it’s at least laid out better, has some fancy rollover images, and looks good in IE browsers.  I still need to add MP3s to the sounds page, but that will have to come in the next week or so.  I may also add a page dedicated to drums detailing my setup, links to drum sites, and all that jazz.  Let me know what you think of the new layout!

Several months ago (understatement), I blogged about the possibility of doing podcasts through this site.  Keeping true to that word, I’ve finally picked up a piece of equipment to make it very easy.  The M-Audio MicroTrack 24/96.  It records direct to Compact Flash, comes with a stereo microphone (I have another one that I might use, however), and has MP3 & WAV recording capability.  I will likely use it to record TPCC sermons as well (or be my backup).  I’ve been needing (wanting?) something to replace my Nomad Jukebox 3 which is not Mac-compatible.  I think this will do the trick.  Files can be transferred via USB.  Once they’re on the computer, I’ll dump them into Audacity or Tracktion, edit them and they’ll be ready to go.  It will likely get use during my drum practice sessions and with JMB as well.

I spent most of today redesigning the CLS website. It actually went much quicker than expected. I’m still sorting out an issue with the “Promotional” tab not showing up on Windows browsers, but other than that, it’s done. I’m excited to say that our host will be offering PHP & MySQL support within the next month, meaning I’ll finally be able to use Wordpress for the CLS site. I will simply transfer this design over to a Wordpress theme when that time comes. Let me know what you think!

Top 5 Reasons Why the ESV is Taking Over the World:

1. It’s a very accurate, word-for-word translation that is very readable.
2. Since the popularity of reformed theology is on the rise, the ESV seems to be the popular choice of reformed Christians (John Piper, R.C. Sproul and Mark Driscoll to name a few).
3. They’re the most web-friendly Bible translation, offereing RSS feeds, a mobile web version, devotions, daily reading plans and more through their website.
4. They freely distribute their licensing to many projects - The ESV Wordpress plugin, the Sword project, ESV widget, eBible and more.
5. They are the only translation to date to offer a journaling Bible.

As most people know, I’m a big fan of the NLTse, but it’s hard to avoid using the ESV since they make it so accessible. In pretty much any situation you may need a Bible, you can find a version of the ESV to use.

This post has been sitting in my draft box for a couple of weeks.  Apparently, for good reason.  Just yesterday, the ESV blog announced their current restructuring due to tremendous growth.

Well… today’s the day.  The master disk of the Crossings recording will be given to their president and off it will go to be mass duplicated, packaged, delivered and then sold.  My part of the job is done.  I’m listening to it as I type this.  Here’s the final tracklist:

1. Salvation is Here (J-Creek band)
2. Marvelous Light (J-Creek band)
3. My Glorious (J-Creek band)
4. All We Need (Cedarmore band)
5. Sweetly Broken (Cedarmore band)
6. Jesus Paid It All (J-Creek band)
7. How Wonderful the Cross (J-Creek band)
8. In Christ Alone (Cedarmore band)
9. No One Like You (Cedarmore band)
10. My King is the Rock (J-Creek band)
11. Undignified (J-Creek band)

I’m pretty happy with the end result.  Of course, it’s a good thing to bring my part of the project to a close.  It’s occupied a lot of my time over the past month, but it was a great time.  As soon as I know how everyone can get a copy, I’ll post the details here.

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While perusing the web for site ideas (keep reading for more on unoriginality), I came across a resemblance between Third Day’s site and John Mayer’s.  The sites were designed by different people, so it makes me wonder… John Mayer’s site has been that way for a while, so I’m wondering if Third Day’s designer “borrowed” from John Mayer’s?

It makes me wonder.  Is there truly any original music these days?  Not really.  Perhaps the same can start to be said for the internet.  Maybe we’re moving to the point where there’s no original web sites anymore.  A sad thought for a web designer.

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After a few years of being dormant, the Saxton’s Cornet Band website is finally up-and-running again. I used all of the band’s old information on the “About” pages and such, so we’ll be updating some wording here and there. But, go check it out and find out about one of today’s most accurate recreations of a civil war-era band.

Yesterday, I watched “End of the Spear” for the first time.  I don’t want to spoil the details for those that haven’t seen it, but I do want to talk about missionaries.  By the way, if you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend it.

I went into the movie expecting to feel convicted for how little I do to spread the Gospel.  Turns out, my expectations rang true, and here I sit in my conviction.  My point is this:  American Christians have it too easy.  We have our cushy lives with roofs over our heads, clean water, nice clothes, dependable transportation, iPods, reality television… need I go on?  How many of us truly care if our neighbor is a Christian?  We have everything we need, so why would we care about anyone else?

Missionaries live a far greater life.  They risk their lives for the sake of the Gospel.  Hundreds and thousands of Christian missionaries are risking their life this very minute in countries all over the world.  They’re in places where this is no such thing as “freedom of religion.”  In fact, if people in these places don’t submit to a particular religion, they’re killed.

All Americans risk is our reputation.  If we share the Gospel with our neighbor or co-worker, we’re just risking them thinking we’re one of those crazy Christians.  They’re not going to pull out a spear and send it through our chest.

Someone I know attempted to say he had “stuck his neck out” for running a Christian business.  He was risking everything he owned to open a business.  To him, ending up broke and homeless was just as risky as a missionary putting their life on the line.  How can this be?  In my opinion, he was putting more value on his worldly possessions than caring about giving his life for another’s salvation.

From a Biblical standpoint, we’re told there’s no greater thing than laying down our life for another.

John 15:13 Listen

13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

All the while, we’re called to think very little about our worldly passions.

Titus 2:11-14 Listen

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Being a missionary isn’t a calling.  It’s a command.  I pray that all of us will at least be a little more willing to risk our reputations since there are others in the world risking their lives.

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