Monday, June 29, 2009

Out of the Dark

Beth and I went to the western North Carolina mountains for a few days last week. We had a beautiful house placed beside a mountain stream. (The stream picture was taken with my cellphone camera.)

24 hours a day we could hear the soothing rustling waters of the stream pouring over the rocks. The house featured a spacious deck that hung over the water and we spent most of our three mornings there reading and drinking coffee in our temporary paradise. In addition to relaxing at the house, we ventured into Cashiers and Highlands, NC. We climbed Whiteside Mountain (4930 feet above sea level) and we walked the first leg of the Chattooga River Trail.

During our stay, we were in the dark. "Dark" meaning no cellphone coverage or internet access. There was Direct TV available but the only thing on at the time was Michael Jackson coverage. (More on that later.) It's liberating, yet a little nerve-wracking at the same time, to be without the instant access that we've grown accustomed to. A part of me couldn't relax for awhile because I couldn't call or text anyone unless we were in town. There was a phone at the mountain house and I had given the number to my kids and a couple of guys at the office in case of emergency. But there still is this weird, but good, feeling when you are in the dark. It's funny how 21st century technology affects us, isn't it?

The mountain getaway allowed me to read a book that I was anxious to read. Somewhere along the way I read an interview with a writer that I admire who said that they read everything that David Sedaris wrote. I took that as my cue to pick up a Sedaris book to see for myself why he is a best-selling author. I read it in two days. He is a great storyteller and I really like his writing style. I was in tears laughing at parts of his book. I could hardly tell Beth what I was laughing at because I was out of control.

But I need to warn you. Because many of you that read this blog are Christians and attenders at my church, you need to know that this is far from a Christian book. There are some obscenities and awkward topics. (David Sedaris is a homosexual and he talks about his relationship with his boyfriend, et. al. - 'nuff said.) I don't have a link to his book here like I usually do when I post a book review because I don't want it to be said that "a preacher at TrueNorth Church recommended it." You have to use your own discretion when you pick up a book.

I read it and enjoyed it because I really liked his style. I certainly don't approve of all his lifestyle choices. I knew nothing about Sedaris when I picked up the book - only that a fellow writer liked his material.

With that said, it occurred to me that reading these kind of people is a way for me to see the light. What I mean is that I as a Christian typically read Christian literature. Most of my reading is about the Church, Christian leadership, Biblical studies, and sometimes Christian fiction. I try to be careful not to place myself in a holy box and read only Christian stuff. I read outside of my realm sometimes - even Rolling Stone magazine lately. I think it's important to know what others in our culture are thinking. It's a reminder to me of how many people in the world live in the dark without the light of Christ.

As I read David Sedaris' thoughts, I found myself thinking, "I'd love to have a conversation with this guy. I wonder what he thinks about..." Because his background is almost total opposite of mine, it's interesting to me to read how others think and how they got to their conclusions.

One final thought: Is it just me or is the Michael Jackson stuff too much? Was he a great talent? No doubt. But the overdone TV coverage is out of control. I saw last night that Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton are now involved. Where is that going? I've seen clips of Michael moonwalking more in the past few days than I ever saw him do it in his fifty years. The carniverous media is feasting on this poor guy now. It's getting weird.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

I wish I could speak in tongues...

Spanish, to be exact.

Our partner church from Guatemala has a team here this week. We developed a partnership with El Camino Church several years ago and have designed our missions ministry in a unique way. Most American churches send missions teams and money to other countries. While this is beneficial and, hopefully, a blessing to them, TNC has added a twist to what normal churches do.

Does this surprise you? TNC isn't "normal."

In addition to TNC sending teams to Guatemala to bless them, they come to South Carolina to bless us! This week, a team from El Camino Church is here ministering to Hispanics in North Augusta and Edgefield County. In the mornings, they are leading a Backyard Bible Club in a Hispanic neighborhood and in the evenings they are ministering in a local migrant camp. It's been a great blessing to have them!

Every time I travel south of the border (Guatemala, Costa Rica, or Mexico) my biggest regret is that I cannot speak Spanish! One day...one day, I want to be able to have some general conversational Spanish skills.

In the book of Acts, the Holy Spirit gave believers the ability to speak other known languages in a supernatural way. The lazy man in me wishes God would give me that ability supernaturally!!

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Have you claimed your Facebook url yet?


I got mine tonight. You can find me faster now at facebook.com/genejennings.

Friday, June 12, 2009

LWS gets another push

In the Baptist Courier this week...

Start Your Online Day with a Devotional


If you're like me, one of the first things I do in the mornings when I get to my office is fire up the computer and open my email inbox. Let me suggest that when you start your day online that you start it with a short devotional thought. My friends, Cindy Sproles and Eddie Jones have a website that will help you do just that. www.christiandevotions.us includes daily devotionals on a variety of topics. Cindy and Eddie have also recently published a devotional book titled Spirit & Heart. You can learn more about it on their site, as well as other great Christian books.

I encourage you to go to the site and sign up for a daily email devotional from them. It's a great way to start your day!

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Sasquatch music festival 2009 - Guy starts dance party

Found this on Seth Godin's blog. (http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/06/guy-3.html) Below are his thoughts.

Here's a video of a dance tribe forming spontaneously at a music festival.

My favorite part happens just before the first minute mark. That's when guy #3 joins the group. Before him, it was just a crazy dancing guy and then maybe one other crazy guy. But it's guy #3 who made it a movement.

Initiators are rare indeed, but it's scary to be the leader. Guy #3 is rare too, but it's a lot less scary and just as important. Guy #49 is irrelevant. No bravery points for being part of the mob.

We need more guy #3s.

Tuesday, June 09, 2009

Unworthy Beloved May 24, 2009

Many of you know that my son, Cliff, is one of our worship leaders at TNC. I posted his rendition of Aerosmith's "Dream On" back on March 17.

My baby girl, Bailey, is a worship leader too. She sings with a band from her college in NC. Here's Bails in action recently.

Friday, June 05, 2009

Do you want a FREE copy of Laughing with Sarah?


I am giving away a FREE copy of Laughing with Sarah to the first 10 people who will commit to reading it and posting a review on Amazon.com. All I ask is for recipients to read it and post the review by July 15. You can be honest on your review. I don't expect you to lie!

To get your FREE copy, email me at genepjennings@aol.com, or genej@truenorthchurch.com, leave a comment on my blog, or reply via Facebook.

ONLY THE FIRST 10 PEOPLE GET A FREE COPY SO ACT NOW IF YOU'RE INTERESTED!

Laughing with Sarah finally hits Amazon & BN.com

They said it would take 6-8 weeks.

They were right.

It takes Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com 6-8 weeks to list a new book. Laughing with Sarah was submitted on April 21. Finally, six weeks later, LWS showed up on these two major online bookstores.

If you haven't purchased your copy yet, you can get it through:

My website: www.laughingwithsarah.com

Amazon: www.amazon.com Click the ad in right column of this blog.

Barnes and Noble: www.bn.com