Kingdomology

expanding the love of Christ & Kingdom of God the world over

Just Life

Loving CHURCH!

Apr 25

Posted by steve in CHURCH, Just Life | No Comments

At The Crossings this past Sunday we started a new series called Discovering Authentic Church.  I love the Church and so do many of you.  But I also know that some of you really don’t resonate with the whole idea of Church.  Some of you have been burnt or jaded because of something someone did while wearing the name Christian.  Others have experienced things in the name of Church that don’t feel too much like Jesus.  I get that.  It reminds me of a book that Dan Kimball wrote in 2007 entitled They Like Jesus, but not The Church.   I’ve met Dan before and have heard him speak, so I know where he’s at on the issue.  He loves Jesus and the true Church.  He just points out that a lot of folks have simply been presented with a counterfeit model of the Church.  I get that and have probably felt some of that pain in my own pilgrimage.  I know I have.  But my hope is that in this study we can see a picture of what the authentic Church really looks like.  I hope we can clean up the mess of misunderstanding.

The true CHURCH is seen in scripture as a beautiful creation of God.  She is loved by God.  No, the Church is not perfect, at least not now.  That’s because it’s made up of imperfect people.  But she is still the “Bride of Christ.”  Because of that significance, I hope everyone can take a second look at this mystery called the Church.  As we continue through this series I hope you’ll ask questions and open up to what it means to experience Authentic Church.  Yes, I love the Church and hope you will too.

What are some of your stories of experiencing the counterfeit?  What are some of your stories of finding the authentic?

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Stoked For Easter!

Apr 5

Posted by steve in Just Life | 4 Comments

I’m getting excited for Easter this year and looking forward to preaching Sunday at The Crossings.  While “sermonizing” this morning I spent some time thinking through a list of famous Easter Songs.  Here’s a short sampling of what I came up with.  If you’ve been following Christ for a while, you’ll recognize a few of these tunes.  If you’re still exploring Christ, then check them out and enjoy.

Because He Lives is probably one the most famous classic hymns on the subject of the Easter.  Bill and Gloria Gaither wrote the  song out of a realization that no matter how hard life can get at times, there is still hope because of the resurrection of Christ.  Next to that is an old vintage hymn by Robert Lowery entitled, Low in the Grave He Lay.  While not really one of my favorites, the Easter Song by Keith Green still resounds with a lot of folks today.  But just about anything Keith Green did was profound.  When I was in High School, Sandi Patty sang Was it a Morning Like This which took off and for a while was being sung by countless soloists across the world every Easter morning.  I think my wife even sang it a few times.  More than likely, she probably did a better job than Patty did though.  I’d say that my all time favorite Easter song is He’s Alive by Don Francisco.  If you’ve ever denied Christ, this one’s for you.  The focus of the song is from Peter’s standpoint after dealing with his denial of Jesus and then acceptance by the risen Christ.  Sometimes I still get choked up a bit toward the end of the tune.  More recently, Nichole C Mullen sang My Redeemer Lives which also has a powerful ending.  I’m going to show that one on Sunday.  A new favorite of mine is In Christ Alone by Stuart Townend.  Definitely my favorite rendition of this song was done by the News Boys. Not sure it’s only an Easter song, but some of the closing words are really pertinent.  So those are some of the Easter songs that minister to me.  Now what about you?

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The “Age” old question . . .

Mar 23

Posted by steve in Just Life | No Comments

I turned 43 this past week and frankly it was a bit difficult to deal with at first.  Honestly, I think the issue was probably just the fact that I had expected to have accomplished a whole lot more by this stage in my life.  You know; saved half the world, published nine or ten books, served a term or two in Congress, and created at least one fortune 500 company.  Well, maybe not all that, but some of you know what I mean.

Some of you are in the same boat.  Maybe you have the t-shirt and wonder about the stage of life you’re in.  The funny thing is that this feeling is not reserved for the retired.  I remember one of the young guys on our team back in Nor Cal worrying about life when he turned 20.  He thought his age was getting away from him.  Yup, I laughed with him and then told him to chill out. The young warrior had no idea. But what is the best course of thought when the years seem like they are slipping away?  Solomon advised young men to ““Rejoice” in their youth.  But what about when you’re not as “youthful” as you once were?  What do you do then? Read the rest of this entry »

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Change of Address for Healthy Pastors.

Mar 16

Posted by steve in Just Life | 2 Comments

It’s been fun to watch the evolution of Kingdomology.  This pilgrimage also includes the recent partnership with the ministry of Healthy Pastors.  Having a call on my life for full-time Christian service, I understand the joys and challenges of such work.  I believe in this ministry cause.  But in order to narrow the audience of both sites for better service, I’ve created a new blog just for Healthy Pastors.  So if you are in some form of Christian service, then check out the new site as it unfolds.  Feel free to dive into Healthy Pastors anytime you want to encourage others or be encouraged yourself.  Kingdomology will of course still be here.  In fact, I’m hoping to make the site even better.  We’ll continue to explore what it means to live out the Kingdom of God in the here and now while spreading the love of Christ as far and wide as we can.  Feel free to send me any questions or suggestions as I continue to make this site better and expand the ministry.  I’d love to hear from you on other issues you believe could be discussed here.  Your thoughts and ideas are an encouragement to me and everyone else in the Kingdomology family.   The weekend is coming.  So make sure to dive into a worship service and pray for the preachers.

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Reading the Reliable.

Mar 12

Posted by steve in Just Life, Kingdom Living | No Comments

“Lighten up; it’s only a book!”  Have you ever heard that about the Bible?  Have you ever thought that about the Bible?  For me, I’ve actually based my whole world view on the Bible.  Why?  Because I have an assurance that “All scripture is God- breathed” and therefore I set eternity and all that I do and teach on that truth.  I know that everyone doesn’t agree with this.  A lot of folks question the validity of scripture and speculate whether it can be trusted or not.  Many people suggest that “because the Bible was written such a long time ago and was translated so many times” that it just can’t be reliable for us today.  If that is true, then the Bible rightly should be questioned.  But there are many good reasons to trust the authenticity of the Bible and its inspiration by God.  Below I’ve posted a summary list a friend and I put together which offers 8 major proofs for the authenticity of the Bible.  What else would you add?  How does this affect your view of scripture?  How does this affect your view of God and His Kingdom?  How does it affect the way you do life today? Read the rest of this entry »

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Thoughts on Physical Fitness (Post by Tom)

Mar 2

Posted by Tom Salter in Just Life | 1 Comment

I’m not making this up.  Got a tweet today, from Under Armour saying “We have a new sports bra just for you!”  C’mon man!   I’m a little overweight.  OK, more than a little overweight.  But I don’t need no stinkin sports bra!


But it does remind me of some verses.  One is from I Timothy 4:8 “For bodily exercise profits little: but godliness is profitable unto all things….”  OK, that reinforces my sedentary lifestyle.  Let’s try again:  I Corinthians 6:19—“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you…?”  The point evidently is that God made our bodies.  We must certainly not engage in immorality, but rather seek to glorify God in our bodies.


Most of us pastors SIT.  We sit, and work at a desk.  On a computer.  Books open.  Sermons written.  We counsel folks.  Oh, we do go out.  I visit folks in hospital rooms or rest homes.  If I am in a home, I invariably get offered something to eat, maybe sugary to drink.  What we don’t do very often is physical labor.


With our church staff shifting somewhat—I got assigned “Physical Plant Overseer”.  Anything goes wrong with any of our structures—the buck stops on my desk.  We have a seven acre campus with an aging infrastructure.  And that includes fences that separate us from neighbors.  One lady’s fence was about to go down, with a storm coming in.  We in essence own half the fence—the part we have to fix.  So I am out in the back 40, finding a hammer, nails, a board.  Several nails later, several slivers later (in my hand) the job is done.  I’ve exerted some calories.  I feel good that some task was brought at least to a temporary conclusion.


My point is: we need to exercise more!  We need to keep these “Temples” in better shape!  I now have a “coach” through my health insurance.  I have to share goals during our next phone conference.  I have two:  to do some cardio exercise three times a week, and to start keeping the “points plus” program at Weight Watchers.  I pay for WW now—just don’t go to meetings, and up to now, didn’t really track.  Exercise?  Oh yeah, I also pay an annual fee to belong to a gym—I just haven’t been there much.


I’ve gotta do better.  How about you?


Tom,

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Getting Ready for 2012

Dec 31

Posted by steve in Just Life, Kingdom Living | No Comments

Are you ready for 2012?  I sure am.  This year New Year’s Day actually falls on a Sunday and we will indeed be meeting at The Crossings.  The plan is to just have one service at 11:00.  The main text that we will be looking at is Psalm 90:12 where Moses prayed; “Teach us to number our days aright that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”  That is a challenging text in many ways.  When we take stock of our potential life span and realize we only have so many days allotted to us, we begin to rethink things more seriously. I suppose it’s kind of like when my kids were younger and a couple of older men told me to enjoy these years because they would be gone before I knew it.  I didn’t believe it then, but I can really relate to that now because my oldest will be graduating from High School in 2 and a half years.  Where did the time go?  In truth, all of us have a short amount of time on this earth.  The question is how are we going to spend that time.  To help us get further along with that road, I’ve listed three challenges below. What else would you add? Read the rest of this entry »

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Merry Christmas?

Dec 12

Posted by steve in Just Life, Kingdom Living | 2 Comments

My boys love this clip and have begged me to show it at The Crossings.  Verdict is still out on that one.  But it is kind of funny and I love its point.  We live in a society today where saying “Merry Christmas” is becoming more and more “Politically Incorrect.”  But as I’ve done the past two Sundays; I want to encourage everyone to step up and say it anyway no matter where you’re at.  Could you offend someone?  Maybe.  But it also just might encourage someone.  Who knows, you might even be able to plant a seed of the real reason for the season and thus open the door to the truth that “God so loved the world that he GAVE his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  So I suppose it’s kind of like the old Nike challenge . . . “Just Say it!”

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The Gist on Jobs

Oct 7

Posted by steve in Just Life | No Comments

Honestly I was somewhat intrigued by all the publicity and emotion tied up with the death of Steve Jobs this past week.  I mean I know who the guy was and what he did; I just didn’t realize the size of his impact.  You’d think an American President had died or something.  But on the other hand, it appears that the long term influence of Jobs on the world through technological and cultural relevance may in fact carry more weight than any of our US Presidents in recent history.  I called one of my good friends back in Nor Cal this evening to get his skinny on the events as he works for Apple and he confirmed everything I’ve read in the Wall Street journal and other sources.  The atmosphere around where my friend works is apparently just as somber as any other Apple center or Apple store from San Francisco, to New York, to Tokyo.  Indeed, Steve Jobs was a visionary of mammoth proportions.  I like that kind of spirit. Vision is something America has been known for in the past and we certainly could use more of it now.  But there are some other things I believe we can pick up from the loss of this great technology and cultural patriarch.  I believe there are some quick lessons we can learn from Jobs for Kingdom and Church leaders today.  Here are 5 fast ones just off the top of my head.  What would you add? Read the rest of this entry »

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Honduras and Costa Rica Report from the Debster!

Sep 23

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Deb and Teri Riley

Well the Hinton house is much happier these days with Deb home from Central America.  She got back into Houston on Tuesday from Honduras and is presently sending out a newsletter to some of our supporters.  So I wanted to include part of her report here for the Kingdomology Crew.  Thanks to everyone who lifted her up in prayer this past week. 

International Conference

The trip to Honduras and Costa Rica was amazing. When we first arrived we had a day of rest to see Tegucigalpa, tour the church building that the Riley’s are working on, and get ready for the 38 women who were spending the night with us before our long bus ride south. We ended up riding in a school bus for 22 hours, going through two border crossings, and all with only six bathroom breaks. The retreat center in Costa Rica was beautiful. It was set high on a mountain overlooking the city of San Jose. I spoke three times the first day, and another lady, Roma Backus, spoke on Saturday. The content of our talks was celebrating being a woman, understanding your wounding, and becoming restored in Christ. The women were receptive and many started on a road to healing. There were times that we had to stop during our talks and pray because of women who were weeping. I had the opportunity to meet with many women one on one and to share scripture and pray with them. They were so hungry for the Lord and His will in their lives. Read the rest of this entry »

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