Been Reed - Life and Theology. The musings of a young pastor.

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Why a Kindle?

I played with an iPad just the other day. And let me tell you…that little device is amazing.

But later on that day, I bought a Kindle. Besides the fact that it’s much cheaper, and I have an iPhone and a laptop, I bought the Kindle primarily because I was just looking for an e-reader. Nothing more, nothing less.

And I’ve been so happy with it. I took it on my recent trip. And in ~14 days, I covered more than 11 books. So here are my thoughts after using it for a couple of weeks.

What I love about the Kindle:

1. I feel like I’m actually holding a book. Even though it’s an electronic device, it almost doesn’t feel like I’ve got a device in my hands. It felt like I was holding a book. In fact, quite a number of times, I tried to “turn the page” manually.

2. Built-in bookmarks. I never have to worry about losing my place.

3. Reading more than one book at a time. I sometimes get worn out with many of the books I read. They’re heavy (theologically/philosophically/physically), and I need to switch to some lighter reads sometimes. The Kindle allows me to effortlessly do that without carrying around multiple books in my bag.

4. Easy highlighting and note-taking, with downloading to my computer. When I’m reading non-fiction, I have to take notes. It’s how I process information. If I don’t take notes, I quickly forget what I read and hear. But notes help me to process, both in the moment and in the future as I continue to wrestle through the ideas.

5. Crazy long battery life.

6. Inexpensive books. Most are ~$10.

What I would improve (what I think would sell more devices)

1. Sharing. I love to share books and give them away. But I can’t with the Kindle. And I get the whole copyright deal…I do. Authors work incredibly hard, and should be rewarded for their work. But here’s how sharing could work: if I share a book with you on the Kindle, I lose privileges with viewing the book on my Kindle…until you “give” it back to me. If you choose to keep it, I would never be able to view the book again, unless I purchased the book again.

2. Lower cost for the device. Even though I got a used version, the Kindle is still expensive. Lowering the price point would get more people in the game. Which would then boost Amazon’s sale of their e-books.

Do you have a Kindle? What do you love so much about it?

Generosity

April 27, 2010 / Ben Reed / 0 Comments

Ever had someone come up to you at a stoplight and offer to wash your windshield?

I remember when I was a kid, and it happened to us when my dad was driving. He politely declined the offer. I said, “What?!? A guy just offered to clean your windshield, Dad! Why didn’t you let him?” His response: “Because he was going to charge us.”

My cousin, Tyler, had a similar experience the other day. While walking the streets of Rome, a guy approached him and made him a bracelet, making polite and engaging conversation the whole time. My cousin, being a naive teenager, thought the guy was just being nice. When he was done, the bracelet-making street guy said, “I did you a favor, now you do me a favor. Give me 5 Euros.” He pulled a 10 out, to which the guy said, “I’ll take 10!”

A gift quickly loses its appeal when the generosity is removed.

In fact, a gift isn’t a gift if there’s no generosity. When a gift is attached with an expectation, it’s not a gift. It’s a transaction. Which is fine if I’m buying something. But not if I’m receiving a gift.

When you serve your community, do you do so expecting nothing in return? Or do you expect that, after you serve somebody, they’re going to come to your church?

When you give “selflessly” of your time and resources, do you secretly expect that there will be a return on your investment? That, because you gave, they are obligated to give something back to you (in the form of a person visiting (or giving money to) your church, your organization, or your small group)?

It’s okay to hope that the love and generosity you show others will be reciprocated. But making it an expectation strips a gift of its beauty.

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. –Luke 6:35

Directions

April 26, 2010 / Ben Reed / 1 Comment

My wife and I just got back from a trip to the United Kingdom. While there, we visited the city of Windsor.

Windsor is a charming town, with cobblestone streets, vendors selling pastries, and lots of people roaming the markets. The queen also resides occasionally at Windsor Castle, and while we were there, she happened to be in town.

There were a whole lot of tourists visiting…many, I’m sure, hoping to spot the queen.

For whatever reason, we didn’t look like tourists that day (even though it was our first day there, and I’m sure we still had that wide-eyed look that tourists seem to have), and were stopped and asked the question, “Do you know where the McDonald’s is?”

Don’t mind the irony of the situation (the fact that they were asking a couple of Americans, who weren’t in America, where an American restaurant was located). We really weren’t sure where the McDonald’s was located. It seemed like we had passed one (and passed we did…we refused to eat American food while in the UK) earlier, so we pointed them in the direction we thought best. Turns out we were right.

Turns out we were right.

But we could have just as easily have been wrong.

Just because we were American didn’t mean we knew where the McDonald’s was.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the whole process of mentoring lately. Maybe because I’m at that stage where I need a lot of help. (will I ever get out of this stage? Would it even be healthy if I did exit this stage?) Maybe it’s because I see others’ errors more easily than I see my own (that’s a problem, I know). Maybe it’s because I thoroughly enjoy learning from others. But I’m not going to just choose to learn from anybody. I mean, I’ll read lots of books. Listen to lots of podcasts. Read lots of blogs. But when it comes to asking somebody to specifically speak truth into my life, I’m being very picky.

And I think you should as well.

Because the people who are influencing me now really are influencing me. They’re shaping the way that I look as a husband, a dad, and a pastor. And for some odd reason, I think that’s pretty important.

In looking for help thinking through your current stage in life, choose wisely.

Just because someone’s a dad doesn’t mean that they know what they’re doing.

Just because someone’s a pastor doesn’t mean they can help give you the counsel you need.

Just because someone’s a leader doesn’t mean that they can help you take the next steps you need to take.

They may be right.

But then again, they may not even be in the right country.

The people who are influencing you now really are influencing you.

Outside the Box, Rick Howerton

April 26, 2010 / Ben Reed / 0 Comments

Earlier this month, we put on a missions conference for small group leaders at Grace, and other churches in the Clarksville, TN community. It was a success, for sure. The video below is fairly long, but I think it’s worth your time. It’s Rick Howerton speaking on missional small groups.

Outside the Box, Rick Howerton from Ben Reed on Vimeo.

A Little Break

April 9, 2010 / Ben Reed / 0 Comments

My wife and I are headed out of the country for a little over a week.

Just giving you a heads up that you won’t see any new blog posts.

But I’m ok. I’ll be back soon.

A Community Decision

April 8, 2010 / Ben Reed / 6 Comments

“You need to make a personal decision to follow Christ.”

I’ve heard that many times. Have you?

It’s something you have to do, on your time, in your heart, in your seat, that you will not regret…with all heads bowed and all eyes closed (thus shutting out the rest of the congregation).

This decision, the one that can, and should, rock your entire community…all boils to you.

Am I the only one that thinks this seems really individualistic, self-centered, and anti-community?

Salvation just doesn’t happen like that. It is true that you have to make the decision, but the decision isn’t made in a box. It’s made in the context of community (relationships with others). It’s community that leads people to a relationship with the Lord, not a mere intellectual ascent to the Truth. It’s seeing the truth lived out. Not reading an airtight apologetic. It’s experiencing the Truth in love. It’s being served. Valued. By community.

And it’s community that you’re saved to. You’re not saved to be an island. Rather, you’re saved to be a part of a family. “Fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household…in him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:19-22) When you trust in Christ, you are grafted into a family. Adopted…and given the rights of the firstborn son. And you instantly become a vital part of that community, which the Bible calls a “body.” (1 Corinthians 12)

So next time, instead of closing a service with, “Bow your heads and close your eyes and make an individual decision…” why not acknowledge the community that has led people to this saving faith, and invite people to look around and rejoice at the family that they are saved into?

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 1 Peter 2:9-10

You Just Don’t Get It

April 7, 2010 / Ben Reed / 3 Comments

Sometimes it’s because of my age.

Sometimes it’s because of my stage in life.

Sometimes they’re just prideful.

Sometimes they’re completely off base.

Sometimes they’re older.

Sometimes they have experienced more of life than I have.

Sometimes they’re right on point.

Sometimes they’re flat-out wrong.

But every time somebody gives the smug perception, “I get it…and you don’t…” I’m immediately turned off. (I know, I know…I’ve got lots to work on. Just hear me out…)

I’ve sat in meetings where I felt like I had a good idea, but was shot down because, peering over their glasses, they would say, “You just don’t understand…but you will one day.”

I’ve been at larger meetings where I can’t get a seat at the table because of my age and stage in life.

I’ve been chuckled at because my thought was ludicrous to them.

And, like I acknowledged above, they were probably right. Maybe I had no right to be at the table. To offer critiques. To suggest solutions.

But, regardless, they’ve set me on edge, and put me on the defense, when they’ve looked down on me. (1 Timothy 4:12 is a great admonition. But that’s another post)

_______________________

When you’re leading people, remember this.

Just because somebody hasn’t been a Christian as long as you…

Or a father as long as you…

Or haven’t read as many books or written as many blog posts as you have…

Or haven’t taken as many seminary classes…

Or been a “member” as long…

Or been in as many small groups…

Or led as many small groups…

Doesn’t mean that they don’t get it.

Who can you take a chance on today?

Who can you give respect to, by simply listening to their story?

*Note: This post is not in response to my current position at Grace Community Church. I’m thankful for the risks they’ve taken, and for the ones they continue to encourage me to take.

April Fool’s!

April 1, 2010 / Ben Reed / 2 Comments

If you arrived here, it’s because you fell for an April Fool’s joke.

Sorry! We like to have fun on the blog here at Life & Theology! So enjoy the laugh!

Thankfully, that lie isn’t true. Hope you have a great weekend!

Advertisements and Evangelism

March 31, 2010 / Ben Reed / 0 Comments

I’m reading through The Tangible Kingdom: Creating Incarnational Community by Halter and Smay. Thought this quote might challenge some folks:

Advertisements by their very nature are intended to coerce thinking and behavior. They are neded when there is no personal relationship between the seller and the potential buyer. This type of coercion is expected when you’re trying to decide what beer to drink or car to buy, but it’s highly offensive when people try to tell you important truths without any tangible relationship.

[…] Paul shares his insights on posture [the nonverbal forms of communication that accompany what we say] with those who were coming to faith in 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8, “But we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We love you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.” An expanded paraphrase might be, “Because we found ourselves emotionally attached to you all, we couldn’t just preach at you. We knew you needed time to process your faith, and the only way to help you understand the big picture was to stay with you longer. We knew the message would make more sense if you saw it lived out in our lives.” –pp. 40-41

When you think of “sharing your faith,” does your mind immediately go towards speaking? Or do you think about doing life together with people?

A Healthy Small Group…

March 30, 2010 / Ben Reed / 4 Comments

I recently said this on Twitter:

So many problems in life could be solved by a healthy small group.

The responses I received really made me think about what components go into producing a “healthy” small group.

A “healthy” small group is one that accomplishes “the win” for your system. Which means that a healthy group at our church may look a little different than the one at your church. And that’s ok. Step 1 is defining “the win.”

But there are certain things that “winning groups” do, right? Do you encourage those things?

Here are a few that I’ve come up with for our system.

A healthy small group…

…stirs your heart to action.

…helps remind you who you are in Christ.

…helps you realize the all-encompassing nature of the Gospel.

…pursues unity.

…is full of people taking steps of faith…together.

…helps you realize the fullness of Grace.

…helps remind you that the troubles in this life will one day be over.

…doesn’t wait until the group meeting to speak encouragement to one another.

…shares group responsibilities with each other.

…relies on each other when needs arise.

…isn’t satisfied with surface-level prayer requests.

…serves others.

…serves each other.

…has fun together.

…laughs together.

…gives people safe space to explore their faith.

…is a safe space for non-believers.

What would you add to the list?