Truly Counter-Culture:

I have been positively impressed by the attention my last two blog posts have gotten. Thank you for the many comments on line, and in person. You have motivated me to purchase a book titled, Welcoming Children; A Practical Theology of Childhood, by Joyce Ann Mercer. I’ve started reading it and will share some of her teaching and research through my filter. I do believe this is a leadership issue. Perhaps a warn-out saying is that Christianity is just one generation from being extinct. What are we doing as Christian leaders to equip the next generation in being transformed by the power of the gospel and share that with others around the world? We find that two generations after Joshua the message of God had become mute. Joshua’s generation had not led the way in making sure the following generations knew about the God of Israel. I can’t get over this passage of Scripture found in book of Judges chapter two:

6 When Joshua dismissed the people, the people of Israel went each to his inheritance to take possession of the land.7 And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work that the Lord had done for Israel.8 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110 years.9 And they buried him within the boundaries of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of the mountain of Gaash.10 And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel.

Do you read it the way I do? Two generations after the great Joshua verse six says these people did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel. They didn’t know about the parting of the Red Sea. They didn’t know about the manna or the quail or the fiery pillar or cloud that guided Israel. The two generations before had failed them. No wonder they were not obedient to God.

So at our church — at least & maybe yours — hundreds of families on Saturday evenings & Sunday mornings do something truly counter-culture. They bring their children to church. In our county it’s only 15% of the population that attends a church on the weekend. In some of your areas it is far less than that. So how do we welcome these children that have traded sports, arts and travel to do something truly counter-culture and come to church? Have we thought through how we can best guide them in worship and learning? I know at our church we have dedicated staff that work all week long so that when our children do something truly against the culture they are rewarded big time! Are you a part of the welcoming committee?

How does your church welcome children? Are you a part of the welcoming committee?

Real Men Teach Children:

I have been attending Willow Creek Global Leadership Summits for 15 years now. One of the speakers at the Summit one year was Mike Singletary. Mike played football for the Chicago Bears. In fact Mike is a Hall of Fame linebacker. He was drafted by the Bears in 1981 and was part of The Monsters of the Midway. He also has the nickname Iron Mike.

However on that day he was introduced by Bill Hybels to talk about personal leadership the fact that Bill shared with us was that Mike taught children at Willow Creek Community Church on the weekends. He was a faithful volunteer in one of their children’s departments. He loves spending time with young children sharing with them about the person of Jesus Christ.

Mike is a real man! He’s proven that on and off the playing field. At LifePoint Church I see real men teaching children every weekend. I see Adam & Barry, Mike & Kevin, Rick & Justin and others working week after week with our children sharing the love of Jesus with those fortunate children that attend our weekend programming.

Real me lead by serving children in weekend programming at many churches around the world each week. This last sentence doesn’t mean that’s the only place they serve, but one of them. Are you a real man or real woman for that matter? Don’t rule out serving children by leading and teaching them in your weekend programming.

So what do you think? Is there a place for real men serving our children in our weekend programs in our churches each week? Let me know your thoughts.

Taking Care of Jesus:

When you attend your weekend worship gatherings at your church where are you most likely to encounter Jesus? Does he always show up on the platform? Many times he does, but always? I’m not sure.

How bout in your adult studies. Does Jesus always show up there? Many times, but always?

Well if Mark 9:37 is true ( “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.” ) Jesus shows up every weekend in our nurseries and children’s programs of our church. This past Sunday I had the high and solemn privilege of taking care of Jesus. I worked in our Caterpillar Department. These are basically children that are in the 18 to 24 month old range. Jesus came to us in the persons of Jacob & Daniel, of Nora and Lyla. It was an awesome experience. Jackie, Theresa & Alisa were awesome care takers to these little ones. There were four of us and nine of them. It was an awesome time. Every child has a different personality and character. They were funny & interesting. They each had their own things they enjoyed doing for the 75 minutes that they were in our care.

 

I left at the end of the morning thanking God for giving me an opportunity to welcome and care for his Son, Jesus. It has been a lingering pleasant memory these last three days. And the three adults who serve there every week were full of love and compassion for these little ones. 

If you want to encounter Jesus for real this weekend ask your nursery director for an opportunity to serve in your nursery toddler area. It’s an experience that will change you life and impact your leadership style for good.

Take me up on that challenge. Volunteer for a Sunday in the nursery/toddler area of your church. Report back and tell us about your experience.

 

Call Your Mom!

Mother’s day is Sunday. So don’t forget to call your Mom. I’ve pasted a wedding picture of my Mom & Dad. They were married on May 7, 1949. My Dad died March 1, 1960. My Mom has done an awesome job keeping our family together. Now at 88 her wit and mind are as sharp as ever. So I think she’ll appreciate the infographic that follows the photo.

What do you remember most about your Mom as you were growing up? 

Let me know how your phone call goes with your Mom!

Mr. & Mrs. George Baldwin

History of Coffee — We Want Your Feedback:

Tony Shin contacted me regarding the Infographic below. He created it and wondered what my readers thought of the information included in it. I found some interesting and new facts I didn’t know about the history of coffee. Please help Tony with your feed back of this Infographic.  What are your takeaways from the infographic below!?!

• What new facts about coffee have you learned by studying the Infographic?
• What are the most surprising things on the Infographic?
• What’s hard for you to believe?

Thank you for your feedback. I’m sure Tony will appreciate it!

Coffee Health:

As many of you know I am a HUGE Beachbody.com fan. In fact I started another round of Insanity yesterday with Shaun T. The last issue of the Beachbody Newsletter had the article below as its lead. I touched base with Steve Edwards and asked if I could reprint it here and on our Furnace Hills Coffee (http://furnacehillscoffee.com) site. He was generous and said yes. I have been impressed with the corporate mission of Beachbody and their positive culture. I have always been impressed with my contacts in this fine organization. Check out their website and start getting in shape today (http://beachbody.com)!

Although there are a couple of downsides to drinking coffee the article is overwhelmly positive . Let me know what you think about what Steve writes below!

The Latté Lowdown: 10 Things to Like and Not Like About Coffee

By Steve Edwards

Depending on how you interpret statistics, coffee is the most consumed beverage in the world. Together with its brethren, tea, only soda measures up in a popularity contest. Because they all contain caffeine, they’re often lumped together in one group, which is a pity because they couldn’t be further apart. Both coffee and tea are natural tonics steeped in lore and tradition. Soda, on the other hand, has nothing natural about it. It’s a purely man-made concoction designed to elicit a drug-like response and cravings.

Coffee and tea may often be referred to as “drugs,” but that is a misnomer. They are natural herbal elixirs, more akin to echinacea than ibuprofen. A quick search of the National Institute of Health’s database shows 8,617 studies on coffee alone and 25,164 on caffeine as of the time of writing this article. The overwhelming majority of these studies are positive. Humans have been drinking coffee for longer than recorded history, and research confirms that it has very few downsides. Soda, on the other hand, has only been around a few generations, and the first long-term studies on it have just started to appear. The appalling results link both regular and diet sodas to myriad diseases and decreased life span. So, to repeat: In no way should these beverages ever be related.

Just because coffee has tradition and science on its side doesn’t mean you should have a 64-ounce trucker’s mug permanently attached to your wrist. As with all “healthy” foods, supplements, tonics, or herbs; common sense—if not downright restraint—should be employed with use. Let’s take a look at 10 things to like and not like about coffee.

1. Coffee can keep you awake. This can be the desired effect, but if it hampers your ability to sleep when you want to, give it a miss. While coffee has all kinds of cool benefits, none of those are as beneficial as sleep. During the various stages of sleep, our body releases many powerful regenerative hormones, making it the greatest natural performance aid around. Furthermore, a 17-year-old study out of England, featuring 10,000 participants, showed those who cut their sleep from seven hours a night to five or less faced a 1.7-fold increased risk in mortality from all causes and more than double the risk of cardiovascular death. Sleep first. Then, consider a cup of java.
2. “Insert your favorite flavor”-accino doesn’t make it coffee. For millennia, coffee was consumed in small cups and, perhaps, enhanced by a touch of sugar or milk. Only since the Starbucks^® revolution, has it been possible to order what was formerly a cup o’ Joe and have it delivered as something that was formerly a milkshake. The majority of most coffee house menus are filled with items that aren’t really coffee, but rather coffee-spiked dessert. Coffee and tea have zero calories. A spoonful of sugar and dash of milk contain around 40 calories. The average drink at Starbucks contains 300 empty calories or more, turning most people’s conception of coffee into something closer to soda. So before ordering your next Choco-Vanilla-accino-Frappé, consider that even one soda a day greatly increases the risk of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
3. It’s a magic elixir. And now for some good news. A 20-year-old study that followed some 84,000 women and 44,000 men concluded that coffee had a bevy of benefits. Published in the May 2, 2006, issue of Circulation, the study concluded that drinking coffee isn’t harmful to cardiovascular health, as had been long assumed, and may even be beneficial. From Harvard Health, “The latest research has not only confirmed that moderate coffee consumption doesn’t cause harm, it’s also uncovered possible benefits. Studies show that the risk for type 2 diabetes is lower among regular coffee drinkers than among those who don’t drink it. Also, coffee may reduce the risk of developing gallstones, discourage the development of colon cancer, improve cognitive function, reduce the risk of liver damage in people at high risk for liver disease, and reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease. Coffee has also been shown to improve endurance performance in long-duration physical activities.” Need I say more? I’m just getting started . . .
4. Coffee can reduce the pain of exercise. An article published in the April 2009 edition of theInternational Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism shows that coffee can kill some of the pain associated with rigorous exercise. “Caffeine works on a system in the brain and spinal cord (the adenosine neuromodulatory system) that is heavily involved in pain processing,” said Robert Motl, kinesiology and community health professor at University of Illinois. These results seemed constant whether or not the subjects were habitual caffeine drinkers. So much for the knock on caffeinated pre-workout supplements!
5. You’re less likely to get type 2 diabetes. It’s not all about caffeine. A slew of studies report that coffee lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes. The July 6, 2005, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association looked at data from many of them and concluded that their findings were, indeed, true. One of those, from the February 2006 issue of Diabetes Care, found that decaf lowers the risk of diabetes as well, suggesting that something other than caffeine is likely responsible.
6. It can increase your sports performance. This probably isn’t too surprising since, for many years, caffeine was on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s banned substance list. Coffee increases many processes in the body that can lead to better performance. Among its ergogenic (performance enhancing) benefits are better mental focus, increased ability to use fat as fuel (which spares your glycogen stores), and increased ability to release calcium stored in the muscle, leading to greater power output, not to mention the one I referenced in number four. And you don’t need a trucker’s mug to do it. Studies at the Australian Institute of Sport report that athletes get the full caffeine effect with as little as 1 milligram of caffeine per kilogram of body weight, or about 1 cup of coffee for an average human.
7. Coffee makes you smart. A study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition in August 2006 followed 676 healthy, older men from Finland, the Netherlands, and Italy for 10 years and measured their cognitive function. Those who drank coffee had lower rates of age-related cognitive decline than those who didn’t, with maximum protection seen in men who drank 3 cups of coffee a day.
8. You’re less likely to get prostate cancer. Men are advised to have regular prostate cancer testing done once they hit the not-so-ripe-old-age of 40. Turns out, coffee is one of your greatest allies in the fight against it, especially when you drink a lot of it. A 2006 study conducted on 50,000 men over a 20-year period concluded that those who drank coffee were 60 percent less likely to develop aggressive prostate cancer. And here’s where tea drinkers might listen up too. “Caffeine in coffee doesn’t seem to be the link, since the same reduction was seen for consumption of decaffeinated coffee,” stated Kathryn Wilson, a research fellow in epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health. “It has something to do with insulin and glucose metabolism. A number of studies have found that coffee is (also) associated with a reduced risk of diabetes.” It’s also worth noting that 6 cups a day seemed like the magic number, as that’s where the risks were lowest. A follow-up in 2011 has further confirmed this study.
9. Six is the magic number for cancer. In 2007, almost 94,000 women participated in a study that found that those who drank caffeinated coffee daily had a 10 percent lower risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer, while those who drank 6 or more cups daily had an almost 40 percent reduction in risk. This time, caffeine seems like the key, as researchers were able to uncover the mechanism by which caffeine helps lower the risk. Caffeine molecules were already known to behave as a natural sunscreen, but they also found the stimulant to have a positive effect on DNA.
10. Coffee reduces your chance of having a stroke. I raise your six and give you eight. A 2008 study of more than 26,000 male smokers in Finland found that the men who drank 8 or more cups of coffee a day had a 23 percent lower risk of having a stroke than the men who drank little or no coffee. Other reports suggest the effect applies to healthy nonsmokers, too. This was backed by researchers at UCLA and USC who examined data on coffee consumption and stroke prevalence among more than 9,000 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. At a 2009 conference, they reported that the likelihood of having a stroke was highest among people who didn’t drink coffee and lowest among those who drank the most coffee: 5 percent of people who drank 1 or 2 cups a day suffered strokes, whereas 2.9 percent of people who drank 6 or more cups suffered strokes. So much for moderation.

Turns out there’s a good reason coffee is not just popular to drink but has an almost cult-like following; it makes life better. And it seems that we knew it long before we could prove it. Just like the British and their beloved tea, coffee is a part of our culture and our history. From literature, to art, to music, and cinema, life wouldn’t be the same without a steaming hot cup of Good Morning America^®.

In closing, I’d like to leave you with a few pearls of wisdom from one of coffee’s most outspoken fans—artist, musician, and film director David Lynch. “I’m gonna let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don’t plan it, don’t wait for it, just . . . let it happen. Could be a new shirt at the men’s store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot, black coffee.” —Special Agent Dale Cooper, Twin Peaks.

Resources:

• Abel, Ernest L et al. “Daily coffee consumption and prevalence of nonmelanoma skin cancer in Caucasian women.” European journal of cancer prevention the official journal of the European Cancer Prevention Organisation ECP 16.5 (2007) : 446-452.
• Conis, E. April 10, 2011. Coffee Studies Should Warm Your Heart. Los Angeles Times.
• Ferrie, Jane E et al. “A Prospective Study of Change in Sleep Duration: Associations with Mortality in the Whitehall II Cohort.”Sleep (Rochester) 30.12 (2007) : 1659-1666.
• Hu, F B et al. “Coffee consumption and coronary heart disease in men and women: a prospective cohort study.” Circulation113.7169 (2006) : 1341-1345.
• Gliottoni, Rachael C et al. “Effect of caffeine on quadriceps muscle pain during acute cycling exercise in low versus high caffeine consumers.” International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism 19.2 (2009) : 150-161.
• Tarnopolsky, Mark A. “Effect of caffeine on the neuromuscular system—potential as an ergogenic aid.” Applied physiology nutrition and metabolism Physiologie appliquee nutrition et metabolisme 33.6 (2008) : 1284-1289.
• Van Dam, Rob M, and Frank B Hu. “Coffee consumption and risk of type 2 diabetes: a systematic review.” Jama The Journal Of The American Medical Association 294.1 (2005) : 97-104.
• Vasanti S. Malik, SCD, Barry M. Popkin, PHD et al. “Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Risk of Metabolic Syndrome and Type 2 Diabetes.” Diabetes Care November 2010; 33(11): 2477-2483.
• Wilson, K M et al. “Coffee Consumption and Prostate Cancer Risk and Progression in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study.” JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (2011) : djr151-.

Your Giving Profile:

For some time now I have been concerned and interested in the lack of giving our churches in the United States experience. It started when I read the book, Passing the Plate: Why Christians Don’t Give Away More Money by Christian Smith, Michael O. Emerson & Patricia Snell. Just recently I came across the graphic view of church giving below.

How much do you give to the work of God? What keeps you from giving more? Do you know what the breakdown is in your church?

A Parable’s Reality:

As I have said many times before I write for another blog (66books In a Year). Below you’ll find yesterday’s post.

Scripture:

18 He said therefore, ”What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?19 It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.” 20 And again he said, ”To what shall I compare the kingdom of God?21 It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”

Observation:

In Vietnam, the US Department of State estimates that Protestants in Vietnam may have grown 600% over the last decade. In Nigeria, the numbers of Christians has grown from 21.4% in 1953 to 48.2% in 2003. Most notably, during the first five years of this century, Christianity as a whole grew faster than the global population. A quick glance at the continental growth rates shows that much of this growth came from Asia and Eastern Europe. Eastern Asia’s Christian growth rate was fueled by the continued growth of Christianity in China. Over thirty million new Christians emerged in China between 2000 and 2005, yielding an average annual growth rate of over five percent. Like Eastern Asia, South-Central Asia’s Christian growth as a whole was aided by the steady rise of Christianity in India’s large population (although Afghanistan and Nepal saw the greatest growth rates in that region). South-Eastern Asia, in comparison, drew its growth from many countries in the region. In Africa, meanwhile, the widespread adoption of Christianity in many countries during the twentieth century has led to lower growth rates today, as natural increase replaces the higher conversion rates of the previous century.(Lausanne Statistics: http://www.lausanneworldpulse.com/research.php/928/04-2008?pg=all )

Application:

In today’s reading we can see it proven in our time and forecasts for the future. When you read the above material from the Lausanne Committee on Evangelism you see that Jesus’ parable has come true. The Kingdom of God has grown like that mustard seed or has spread like the leaven in the bread Jesus spoke of. So what about us? Are you discouraged by what you see around the world today or encouraged? Perhaps the church is declining in the West, but it is exploding elsewhere in the world. We are  a part of a movement that is outstripping the growth of the world’s population. Jesus’ words have proven true!

Prayer:

Father God, we are humbled that you have called us to be a part of this worldwide movement called Your Church! Help us to do our part in spreading the message of Jesus so that all have a chance to hear the life-changing message of the Gospel. We pray these things in the true name of Jesus, Amen!

dmbaldwin

Choosing to Forgive:

I contribute to 66Books In A Year blog and below you’ll see my post from today. I love this story!

Scripture:

Luke 6:27-36, 27 ”But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either.30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

32 ”If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount.35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. (English Standard Version)

Jake DeShazer was a member of the Jimmy Doolittle Raiders that bombed Tokyo in April of 1942. His B-25 was shot down and Jake was captured by the Japanese. He was imprisoned under brutal circumstances and through a series of events he became a Christ follower (not enough time or space in this post to go through the details). After World War II, Jake went back to Japan as a missionary and wrote a booklet about his experiences in the POW camp and how he had come to Christ through that experience. The booklet was entitled I Was a Prisoner of Japan. The sentence that changed DeShazer’s world was “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” ”I realized that these people did not know anything about my Savior and that if Christ is not in a heart, it is natural to be cruel,” says DeShazer.

The booklet was widely circulated throughout Japan. The pilot who led the attack on Pearl Harbor, Captain Mitsuo Fuchida, picked up the booklet and read it. At first he was highly offended by Jake’s depiction of what happened in his POW experiences. Every country treated POW’s that way was his reasoning. Yet he had the integrity to check out what a buddy of his had experienced when captured by the Americans at Guadalcanal. His friend told a very different story of his captivity. And he added a story. He said a young American woman would visit him every day bringing him newspapers and snacks etc. One day he asked her why she showed so much love and interest to him. She told the following story. She said that her parents had been missionaries to Japan before the war. That when the Doolittle raid took place Japanese officials came to her parents home in Tokyo and made trumped-up charges against them. The officials led her parents out into their back yard and executed them on the spot. This young woman said that she had two ways she could respond. She could hate her enemy or love them. She chose love.

When Captain Fuchida heard this story he gave his life to Christ. He said that his culture spent generations angry and plotting revenge, but that this young woman had chosen a more superior way.

Father God give us strength to love and not hate. Help us to leave the vengeance to you. Thank you for the superior power of love. We pray this in Jesus Name, Amen.

Who’s In Charge?

As many of you know I also contribute to 66Books In a Year blog. What you read below was posted there this morning as well.

Scripture:

Numbers 20, 10 Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?”11 And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock.12 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.”13 These are the waters of Meribah, where the people of Israel quarreled with the Lord, and through them he showed himself holy.

Mark 15, 33 And when the sixth hourt had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, ”Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, ”My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (ESV)

A contrast in reactions. Moses lost his patience with the children of Israel and took matters into his own hands at the waters of Meribah. Jesus stayed patient to the end. Both knew the plan, but one lost his way while the other stayed steadfast till the end. I heard someone who was desperately seeking a relationship with God state that he knew the New Testament was true. Who includes what seems to be an unflattering story about the hero in the book? We read it here and know that Jesus did all that was asked of him. He didn’t short-circuit the plan. Even at the thought of being abandoned by the Father.

I don’t know about you but there are many times I lose patience with God. I grab things back into my own hands and work things out my way. It’s never the best or even close to what God has in store for me even when I’m feeling alone and abandoned. I don’t know about you, but my goal in this coming week is to be more like Jesus and less like a Moses. Let’s see what God has in store.

Father God thank you for the plans you have for me. Help me to trust you with everything I have. I pray that this week I wouldn’t take the short-cuts. I pray I won’t lose heart or patience, but to rely solely on you for the outcomes in my life. I pray these things in the all-knowing name of Jesus, Amen.

What are you giving to God this week? What plan is He working out for you?