Monday, February 15, 2010

I've moved!

OK, not physically, but technologically. If you have bookmarked http://www.bradraby.blogspot.com/, or subscribe to my site via a feed, you'll want to go to http://www.bradraby.com/, and subscribe, bookmark etc. over there.

The site has been totally reworked, and now includes resources like sermons and podcasting etc.


Enjoy!

- Brad

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Change

One of my favorite thinkers/leaders, Tony Morgan had some great thoughts about change over on his blog. Here are some of my favorites:

It’s a lot easier to embrace change when you’re the one initiating it.

Change without vision is chaos.

Many times the most successful or positive changes also produce the most criticism.

Change doesn’t happen unless someone is responsible to deliver it.

It’s easier to embrace change when we see it rather than when we hear about it.

Change, even the best kind of change, will always generate some measure of fear and anger and sadness. In other words, someone will always despise the change and let you know about it.

It’s almost impossible to change a change that previously worked.

Organizations that don’t change die.

Slow change is rarely positive change.

If the change is easy, you’re probably not changing enough.

If everyone already recognizes the need for change, you’re obviously not the leader.

You can see the full post HERE.

- Brad

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

"Rightly Dividing the Truth"

OK, every church has those people who...shall we say 'think' they are spiritual, but are in all actuality some of the most nonspiritual Christians you could ever meet. It should be noted that they feel their way is the only way, their music is the only good music, their preference is the best, them, them, them etc.

Every now and then they feel 'lead by God' to be anonymous prophets - AKA, spineless critics. They send unsigned letters, notes etc to you. This week one of those precious people posted a religious news article on the bulletin board in the church hallway for people to read. The article which you can see below is critical of churches and "so called" pastors who adjust their service schedule or show the Super Bowl inside the "Sanctuary". Normally I just grin at this sort of thing and move on, but the title of this column is "Rightly Dividing the Truth." I take issue with article because it is pathetically Non-Biblical. I'm TOTALLY OK with someone having different preferences or traditions than me, but you better not try to distort God's Word in the process. The other reason I would like to draw attention to the article is because for the last month in our student ministry we have been discussing what the 'church' is and is not from a Biblical viewpoint.

So, I'm asking our students to comment on this post and point out the errors you can find based on the teaching we've been examining in the Bible during FUEL over the last month. Let's see how many you can catch.


- Brad.


Super Bowl Redux

Note: I intended to write this peace yesterday, but with Colts loss (I'm a huge fan) I needed a day to get over the loss to the Saints.

My 10 thoughts from Sunday's Big Game.

10.) 106 million people watched the Super Bowl. 1/3 of our population watched the Super Bowl! It was the largest TV audience ever, breaking the record of the last M*A*S*H episode. This is remarkable in this day of endless viewing options.

Now, if the NFL owners and players screw up what they have going in their CBA negotiations and have a lockout of any kind - they would be the biggest fools on earth. The money pie is huge...8 Billion dollars huge! You can figure out a way for everyone to get a nice slice.

9.) I hated the Colts losing. Hated it. But if they were going to lose to a team in the NFL - I'm cool with it being the Saints. Drew Brees is a good dude. Despite the disappointment I felt after the game, seeing Drew holding his cute little boy after the game while his eyes filled with tears...that was special.

8.) Seriously, how long will we have to pay for Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction"? I don't have anything against The Who, but we need a more relevant halftime experience. The only thing that held that act together was an amazing stage production. That was wow. Here are some safe, but relevant suggestions for next year: 1) a country collage of Toby Keith, Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and Carrie Underwood. 2) Kings of Leon, Coldplay or Maroon 5. 3) U2. OR, put these guys on a 7 second delay: 1) Jay Z and Rihanna. 2) The Black Eyed Peas.

7.) The biggest play of the game form a football perspective was not the interception, the onside kick, but Pierre Garcon's drop in the second quarter. Manning hit Pierre in the hands around the 50 yard line, with about 25 more yards of running room. The Colts are almost guaranteed to score again, which would have eliminated one of the Saints possessions. Colts would have had a two possession lead, and I believe won the game.

6.) Peyton Manning is the most unjustly scrutinized player in sports. Maybe in sports history. He throws for 333 yds, and TD and a INT that people with real football knowledge know was on Reggie Wayne's unusual break to the ball - and somehow we are back to the Peyton can't win when the big game is on the line. I won't defend him long, because I'm admittedly partial, but give me a break.

5.) My Favorite Super Bowl Ads:
1.) The Doritos "Play Nice" (The little boy putting smack down on his mommas date.
2.) Lebron vs. Dwight vs. Larry Bird
3.) Betty White Snickers Bar
4.) Leno, Oprah, Letterman
5.) Jim Nance, FLOW TV Spineless man
6.) E-trade Jealous Baby Girlfriend
7.) Audi Green Police

4.) My Least Favorite Super Bowl Ads:
1.) Career Builder - Casual Day. Still have a little vomit in my mouth over that.
2.) Go Daddy Ads - How many miles of slutiness can they get out of these?
3.) Monster.com - Gopher/Beaver, Whatever it was it was weird and made no sense.
4.) Coke Sleep walking - Yawn.
5.) Charles Barkley/Taco Bell - yeah, Barkley needs a super size combo meal.
6.) Audi Green Police (Yeah, I know it's on both lists. If the Green Police weren't intended to be satirical, then I didn't like it.)

3.) Speaking of commercials. The Pam/Tim Tebow commercial. You know the one that got the NOW (National Organization of you better think like we do or you’re not a real Woman group) and other feminist groups all stirred up into a tizzy? Here is what I think: The groups that were crying that this ad was offensive and demeaning to women. The groups calling for CBS to pull the ad - These groups should be embarrassed of themselves. I don't mean a little flush in the cheeks embarrassed, I mean head in the sand, go on vacation for a month, profusely apologetic type of embarrassed at themselves for creating a firestorm over this ad. I emphasized should for a reason.

Terry O'Neil, the president of NOW, responded to the commercial by saying, "I am blown away at the celebration of the violence against women in it," she said. "That’s what comes across to me even more strongly than the anti-abortion message. I myself am a survivor of domestic violence, and I don’t find it charming. I think CBS should be ashamed of itself."

So let me get this straight...Tim Tebow and Focus on the Family are "celebrating violence against women"? I'm sorry, but these assertions can only be described as idiocy, absurd, madness and lunacy.

2.) I think Jim Nance may be one of the best sports broadcasters of all time. He is so underrated.

1.) I feel a little pit in my stomach because it has just occurred to me that football is on hiatus until September...ah well, we have March Madness soon.

- Brad

Monday, February 01, 2010

Who will win the Big Game?

Colts or Saints? Vote on the poll here at http://www.bradraby.com/.


Go Colts!


SHBC Students: Click the image below for info on the Big Super Bowl Party!


Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Time for a mind dump...

Let me begin by saying the following thoughts are my opinions, lest the comments and e-mails get too wild.

Here are some news items of late that I find ridiculous:

5.) The Mark McGwire 'confession'. In his interview with Bob Costas, which I watched live on MLB network, McGwire tried to make the case that the 'performance enhancing drugs' that he took did not help his performance. He tried to sell us on the fact that he used them only to recover from injury.

Students all over this country have a new excuse when their teacher catches them cheating. "Mrs. Teacher, you don't understand...these answers I have written under my sleeve didn't help me make a good grade on the test - they only they helped me remember the answers. It's not cheating."

Dear Mark,

I am not the smartest person in the world, but I'm not stupid. So quit insulting my intelligence with this PR nonsense.

4.) This "Jersey Shore" craze. I watched 3 minutes of it and said to myself, "My 11 month old's Baby Einstein videos are more entertaining than this."

Plus, Michelle Obama said she wouldn't let her kids watch it - let's follow the First Lady's advice.

3) Receiving a letter to let you know that your baby will be taken off life support. Forget the moral and ethical issues at stake in this story. It sounds like the parents were given the news by means of a letter. I would prefer a face to face meeting, no matter the discomfort or chance for it to become volatile.

My liberal friends keep telling me of the wonderful health care system to our north in Canada. No thanks.

2) Liberals over thinking. Read an article in Newsweek yesterday where a self professed moderate was criticizing President Obama for leading with his head, not his heart. In the same article he was critical of President Bush for doing what he wants Obama to do.

I know it is required that liberal Journalists take a shot at George W. Bush or Sarah Palin in each report they make - regardless of the topic, but when they do I just wish they would do so with a little more logic.

I expect http://www.salon.com/ or The Huffington Post to be irrational and sensationalist, but come on Newsweek...you can do better.

And the #1 most insanely ridiculous item of the day:

1) The National organization for Women and other feminist extremist groups calling for Pam and Tim Tebow's commercial celebrating life to be cut from the Super Bowl. The story can be read HERE.

Let me make several points:
a) The headlines keep referring to the ad as an "Anti-Abortion" commercial. This journalistic manipulation began a few years ago when some genius discovered that it was easier to ridicule groups like Focus on the Family, and the American Family Association by referring to them as "Anti-Abortion" instead of "Pro-Life". These same slime balls who have convinced themselves that they simply report and do not push ideologies would never refer to "Pro-Choice" groups as "Pro-Abortion".

My honest feeling is that the ideological tide may be turning on the Abortion issue, and groups like Planned Parenthood and the NOW are scared to death.

Of course videos like this don't help their cause: http://www.babycenter.com/2_inside-pregnancy-weeks-1-to-9_10302602.bc

b) The commercial is designed to celebrate life through the story of Pam Tebow choosing to go ahead with a risky pregnancy against her doctor's advice. The result: the birth of Tim Tebow, whom Peter King, acclaimed sportswriter, refers to as "too good to be true". King is not referencing his stellar career in college football, but his exemplary life off the field.

Terry O'Neill, the president of the National Organization for Women, said she had respect for the private choices made by women such as Pam Tebow but condemned the planned ad as "extraordinarily offensive and demeaning."

So Terry, let me get this straight: A 30 second clip encouraging people to celebrate life and consider other options than abortion is "extraordinarily offensive and demeaning"???

Are you serious? Or, do you just have a Rolodex of responses to any other ideology than your own?

Then again, one of America's greatest thinkers - Jemhu Greene, president of the New York-based Women's Media Center, said that the Super Bowl was an event "designed to bring Americans together."

I don't know about you miss Greene, but as a Colts fan I don't give a rip about coming together with Saints fans next week. Furthermore miss Greene, Roger Goodell would like you to know that the Super Bowl has been a global event for quite some time now. Even the half time show will be performed by some of our musical friends from the U.K.

c) Where is the outrage from women's groups against companies like GoDaddy who will use the sexual exploitation of women to sell their products? Where ya at?

d) Isn't it interesting that a group that promotes itself as "pro-choice", vehemently opposed to CBS choosing what commercials it wants to air?

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is America. If you are offended by Pam Tebow's story and Tim Tebow's convictions then you can purchase for less than $10 at your neighborhood Walmart a brand new piece of technology called the remote control, and change the channel.

- Brad

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Helping the People of Haiti

Looking for a way to help the people of Haiti? Below are links to great organizations who are helping to provide aid. Click on them to donate and see how else you may be involved in reaching out to those in need right now.

COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL DISASTER RELIEF

BAPTIST GLOBAL RESPONSE (SBC)

- Brad

Friday, January 08, 2010

Some thoughts

It's been a long while since I've done some serious thought dumping at www.bradraby.com, so here goes!

Thought #1: I've never said "I wish I had a fever and was sick to my stomach" until today. My little girl Rylee is really sick for the first time. I hate her being sick. I wish I could take it away from her. I'd gladly be sick in her place.

Thought #2: Youth in Revolt, the latest R-rated high school debauchery comedy comes out this Friday. I noticed under the ratings the phrase, "Parent's strongly cautioned." Dear parent, If you let your child be entertained by this garbage - it is the child who needs to be strongly cautioned. Cautioned that their parents lack of wisdom can result in a generational slide filled with bad decisions that lead to pain and regret. Dad and mom...Be Smart. Kids, be smart even when mom and dad aren't.

Thought #3: I spent 4 hours helping an 82 year old woman install a new computer and sync her IPod with podcasts she had downloaded. I really enjoyed it. I like helping elderly people with technology, and I really find it awesome that an 82 year old likes using a computer and IPod. Plus, we had some great theological conversation ranging from dispensationalism to reformed theology.

Thought #4: I don't think wearing a suit and tie on Sunday is a sign of spirituality as a Christian minister. I do think it is a sign that one is lacking in spiritual maturity if they think it does.

Thought #5: Traditions that at one time make local churches very effective for the Kingdom, can eventually over time and several cultural shifts force those same churches to be very ineffective for the Kingdom.

Thought #6: It often takes more energy and effort to convince people to "buy in" to a vision, than it actually does to carry out the vision.

Thought #7: The reason for #6: We are not very good at Philippians 2:3.

Thought #8: The Smokey Mountain Brewery's Ale Steak is delicious.

Thought #9: I married a woman above my league. By far my most significant accomplishment.

Thought #10: The BCS/Bowl System isn't about money so much as it's about the % of the money that goes to the big power schools/conferences. You see a playoff system would produce huge money, but the pieces of the pie would end up being more evenly distributed to smaller schools/conferences that had great seasons. The bowl system guarantees the SEC, Big 10, Big 12, Pac 10 etc a HUGE piece of pie with guaranteed bowl tie ins. A playoff system couldn't guarantee that. Ironically the NCAA is a non-profit organization.

Feel free to share your thoughts!

Good night,

-Brad

Monday, December 28, 2009

The Big Give Video



- Brad

Friday, December 18, 2009