Equippers Newsletter -- Reassessing the Value of the American Dream

Al Jackson, a great missional pastor at Lakeview Baptist Church in Auburn, AL, recently asked the question, 'Will we follow a great commission resurgence, or the American dream?'

What a poignant, profound question. We would all like to think the two are not mutually exclusive, that we can have the American dream and be totally surrendered to living the great commission. But his very question suggests otherwise, and I believe he is right.

First all, ask yourselves, 'What is the American Dream?' My answer: to get all we want on our terms.

You might think, 'That sounds harsh, selfish.' It is. The American dream -- from which I have benefited greatly and to which I am highly drawn! -- is about getting more. Simple as that. Yes, that more is 'for our families' or 'for our kids,' but is more always better? More what?

'Getting more' stands in conflict with reaching 2.7 billion people who have not heard the Gospel, with sacrificing energy, time and money to raise homeless children, and on and on and on.

So what will your family do? If you are in the midst of living the American Dream, what kind of coure correction can you make? How much will you have to abandon? What will you need to know to hear His voice?

Those are hard questions worthy of prayerfully searching out, discussing, and acting on. No one can answer them precisely for you. But as Peter Lord once said, "We do what we believe. All the rest is just religious talk."


The Halloween Issue . . .
      Halloween is coming, and it is a controversial time. Some balance is needed to have a proper perspective, but also some enlightenment. While I'm willing to stand boldly for truth, I think it is extreme when families say to other families, "Halloween is totally harmless," OR, "You should have nothing to do with Halloween." Respect for a families' position is important. I recall many happy Halloween's in various costumes, romping through neighborhoods collecting candy. And I don't recall any particular demonization from the effort! HOWEVER, I understand that was 40-ish years ago (really? wow), and I understand Halloween's 'roots.' Check out this read from Randy Alcorn, whom I respect greatly, and - when your through with this blog entry, look at the second entry down on my blog (overall, not within this entry) and find my column that ran on Crosswalk.com a few years ago on Halloween and Hell.
 http://randyalcorn.blogspot.com/2009/10/perspective-on-halloween.html

On Teen Disrespect of Parents
(Yeah, nobody will hit this link, LOL)
http://www.christianpost.com/blogs/parenting/2009/10/all-due-respect-from-your-teenager-07/index.html

White Board Material or Conversation Starters

• "When you ignore the impulse to do good, it's like embezzling a blessing. Be a good steward of God's intentions today."
• "When you die, you wont' regret your unfulfilled dreams, just your unattempted ones. The first is reality; the second is tragedy." -- Rick Warren
• "The world's poor feel we ate the appetizers, entrees and dessert, then asked them to tea and said, 'Let's split the bill.' " -- Rick Warren
• "Can they tell you value Jesus by the way you rep His name?" -- Lecrae
• "Sex is far more than a physical connection. You give yourself. Tell teens they don't make a condom to protect your heart." -- Rick Warren