Archive for July, 2008

31 Jul, 2008

The Feminization of Men

Posted by: Ben Reed In: Biblical Counseling| Life theology

One of my favorite seminary professors was Dr. Randy Stinson.  I’ve told you before how influential he was in shaping my thoughts on adoption, and I thought that I would share one of his recent posts on the feminization of men.  He is right on target when it comes to the importance of men acting [...]

30 Jul, 2008

Is the Church a business?

Posted by: Ben Reed In: Uncategorized

I was talking with a friend of mine the other day, and he asked, “How is the church business going?” It sounds odd to place the words “church” and “business” together in the same sentence, doesn’t it? At first, I was taken aback, almost offended, that he would equate the two. I [...]

28 Jul, 2008

What I blog about

Posted by: Ben Reed In: Uncategorized

I like this little application. You can enter in a website or RSS feed, and it will create a visual “word cloud” of the words that are used most often. I haven’t been blogging for long, but this gives you an idea of what I blog about:

I got an email from somebody yesterday, and I think it would be helpful for me to post this.  Let me know what you think, and if you have anything that I should have added.  Do you agree with my response?  Why or why not?
In order to not reveal names, I’ll summarize the email.  This [...]

21 Jul, 2008

Can you control your emotions?

Posted by: Ben Reed In: Biblical Counseling

Have you ever heard somebody say that they can’t help getting angry? What about, “I just worry?” How about, “I can’t help it…I just get fearful when…” What are emotions? Wickipedia lists some. Here’s what they say (click here for more information from Wikipedia):
Distress-is an irrational contraction or a fresh [...]

16 Jul, 2008

Your Story

Posted by: Ben Reed In: Life theology| Small Groups

I like to hear people’s life stories.  What has led you them to where they are now?  I love to hear how God’s been all about that person’s redemption.  From the good to the bad, from the neat to the messy, from the easy to the difficult, God has been using people and situations to [...]

10 Jul, 2008

The Importance of Relationships

Posted by: Ben Reed In: Small Groups

At the church where I’m on staff, we’re getting ready to kick off our Fall launch of community groups.  We’ve placed a high priority on relationships here, and believe that life change happens in the context of relationships.  Tim Lane and Paul Tripp say it well, “Individual change and growth in grace…is not simply an [...]

07 Jul, 2008

Adoption

Posted by: Ben Reed In: Adoption| Life theology

I really have a heart for adoption.  Neither me nor my wife were adopted, but I think that our desire to adopt stems from a discussion that we had in one of our seminary classes had.  Dr. Randy Stinson was the professor, and he challenged us to adopt, from a theological standpoint.  We were talking [...]

01 Jul, 2008

Road signs and the deceitfulness of sin

Posted by: Ben Reed In: Life theology

Have you ever seen this sign?
 
It’s in the middle of the summer here now, so I don’t worry about frozen bridges.  In Tennessee, if a bridge freezes over in June, something is really wrong.  These warning signs are posted right before many of the bridges between my home and Nashville, and I pass them without a [...]




Organizations I believe in

Mission ClarksvilleAfrica For Jesus

What I'm Doing...

  • Met a guy today who said he's not afraid of death, yet had no hope 4 an eternal future. I weep 4 that man. 3 hrs ago
  • Lady just told me she loves @crosspoint_tv in Nashville but hasn't found anything like it in Clarksville. That's like lobbing me a softball 5 hrs ago
  • So thankful that Christianity is built on a relationship w Chist & not on being religious/performing rituals 7 hrs ago
  • @allenwhite I just laughed out loud at your reply. Thanks for getting me in trouble, Allen! in reply to allenwhite 8 hrs ago
  • @FreddyT Leadership Clarksville 'religion and social diversity day' 8 hrs ago
  • On the panel now: a female episcopal pastor, an islam pastor, & a Unitarian Universalist. Oh the sparks that will fly... 8 hrs ago
  • If you missed it, here's part 1 of my interview with @rgneighbour about small group system problems: http://ow.ly/1gLha 10 hrs ago
  • More updates...
Books Ben's Reading

Vintage Jesus: Timeless Answers to Timely QuestionsSimple Small Groups: A User-Friendly Guide for Small Group LeadersUnder the Overpass: A Journey of Faith on the Streets of AmericaYour Jesus Is Too Safe: Outgrowing a Drive-Thru, Feel Good SaviorSeeker Small Groups: Engaging Spiritual Seekers in Life-Changing DiscussionsCrazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God

More of Ben's books »
Ben Reed's currently-reading book recommendations, reviews, favorite quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists