Mike Edmisten Follower of Jesus. Husband of Nicki. Father of Ryan & Brock. Communicator of the Word.

Wayne's World?

Not anymore.

The Reds fired their GM, Wayne Krivsky, today. They'll be replacing him with Walt Jocketty, a longtime friend of owner, Bob Castellini.

The Reds website says it all. "Few expected a change would happen this soon. But Castellini ran out of patience and Krivsky ran out of time."

What kind of difference will this make? I'm taking a wait-and-see approach.

Authenticity vs. Hypocrisy

One of the spiritual traits that I value very highly is authenticity. I am drawn to authentic people, while I am repulsed by hypocritical people. And I'm in good company in that regard.

God said, "Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind." (1 Peter 2:1, NIV)

God hates hypocrisy. He values authenticity.

Which value do you live out in your life? Some clues…

As you read that list, I'll bet that, at least some of the time, you found yourself in the hypocritical camp. I know I did.

Earth Day

Everybody is talking about "going green" today in honor of Earth Day.

As people who follow Christ, we've got to approach this the same way we should approach everything we see in our culture…we have to run it through the filter of Scripture.

The Bible teaches that, "The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it…" (Psalm 24:1, NIV)

If "the earth is the LORD's," then it makes sense that we should take care of it. It's a horrible witness when you pitch pop bottles and fast-food bags out your car window. Come on. You're a big boy/girl. Find a trash can.

Recycling is wise. Conserving energy is cool. If you approach it with the mindset that you're taking care of God's creation, then you're on the right track.

However, we should be very troubled with the extremism in the environmental movement. I purposefully avoid politics on my blog, except when the political issue is also a spiritual issue. This one qualifies.

For some, the planet has become the god to be worshipped. "You can't cut down that tree, because God is in that tree." When you hear things like that, you should have all kinds of alarms going off in your mind. It's a very unscriptural worldview.

The Bible says that the earth belongs to God. It also says, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." (Genesis 1:27-28, NIV)

God commissioned mankind to "subdue the earth." In other words, to rule over it. To be its master. To use its resources for our benefit.

Taking care of God's creation while still utilizing its many resources is a balanced, Biblical stance.

And one more thing…I am very troubled by the "go green" emphasis that is happening in the church today. Instead of preaching Jesus, a lot of churches are preaching recycling. Recycling isn't going to get you to heaven. That's Jesus' department.

Preaching is a privilege that God has entrusted to guys like me. We can never forget that, as with any privilege, the potential for abuse is great. It is a horrible abuse when we preach "green" instead of preaching the gospel. Let's be sure that we don't major in the minors.

Remember that the church is called to "go gospel."

Bring Your Best Every Time

From Steven Furtick's blog…

Someone paid me a meaningful compliment recently:
“I’ve noticed that you give your very best every time you’re preaching…whether there are 5 people in the audience or 5000.”

It meant a lot that he noticed that, because it’s a practice I’m very intentional about. It’s a part of my theology:
God deserves my very best every single time.

Since He’s my only true audience in ministry, I’m always playing to a packed house. Every show is sold out.

I can’t think of a more sure fire way to attract the power of God in your life and ministry than to bring your best to every single encounter. Every single experience. Every sermon you preach, every song you sing, every diaper you change, every lawn you mow…God is always worthy of your most worthy offering.

And Jesus gives assurance that your heavenly Father, who sees what is done in secret, also knows how to reward you openly-when you bring Him your very best…every single time. (Matthew 6:2-6).

Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed

I don't know if I've ever done this in over 12 years of ministry, but I suggested to Brian that we leave the office this afternoon to take in a movie.

No, we didn't go see Horton Hears a Who! or Leatherheads.

We headed down to Newport on the Levee to see Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed.

This documentary by Ben Stein explores the scientific community's complete acceptance of Darwinism, along with their utter rejection of Intelligent Design as an alternate theory for the origin of life on this planet.

It was, in a word, compelling. I don't recommend movies very often. I don't think I've ever recommended a documentary. But that all changes today.

You need to see Expelled.

This film will challenge you. I don't think that I've ever utilized so many brain cells watching a movie as I did today. It's not a sit-back-and-turn-off-your-mind type of movie. You can't just show up physically. You've got to show up intellectually.

This film will anger you…especially if you're a person of faith. Be prepared to be insulted over and over again by some elite scientists.

This film will frighten you. The lack of freedom for opposing ideas in the scientific community is striking…and our kids are being taught by some in this community at a very early age.

This film will confuse you. I can't even begin to wrap my mind around some of the theories for the origin of life put forth by the Darwinists in this film. It is absolutely ludicrous…and yet I'm the one who's an idiot because I believe in God.

This film will motivate you. I am more hungry to study the subject. I am not afraid of science and I am not afraid of faith. The two can coexist. In fact, the two must coexist. If God created all that is, why should scientific discovery frighten or alarm me?

Go see Expelled. You won't regret it.

Church Trailer Thief

Ok… here's the scenario: You're a church that meets in a movie theater, and one of the trailers that houses all of your church's stuff is stolen. What is your response?

When this happened to Kinetic Church in Charlotte, NC, they decided to go on the offensive, purchasing billboards and creating a Youtube Video aimed directly at the thief.

I've actually met Dave Milam, the senior pastor in the video. (He's a CCU grad who grew up in Mason.) I don't know him well, but I'm floored by his church's response to the thief. Even if they never meet the one(s) who stole their stuff, I can see God using this situation to reach someone who wouldn't have otherwise given their church a second look.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28, NIV)

A Beautiful Day

Why can't all days be like this one?

We had a stellar day at ACC! I've mentioned before that the Demolition series may be my favorites series that I've ever preached. This morning just added to that.

Preaching on prayer in a fresh, new way is a challenge. That's why the response this morning was extra encouraging. Lots of people said that they were challenged and convicted. That's a good thing!

One fella told me, "That was the best, most practical message on prayer I've ever heard." Dang! Gotta love that.

It was great to meet several guests who were checking out ACC. Those of us who are ACC veterans need to remember that every Sunday is somebody's first Sunday. Every weekend, someone checks us out for the first time. That's a great motivation to keep our excellence level way up!

After church this morning, we went out to lunch with some friends. Gotta love Fridays! Awesome steak!

Then, I gave the rest of the day to my family. I work a lot of Sundays after church, but not today. This is my beautiful bride's birthday, so the rest of the day was family time. We went to Graeter's and just hung out at home after that.

I'll say it again…Why can't all days be like this one?

Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On!

Anybody else feel the earthquake around 5:30 this morning? I was lying in bed awake, not really wanting to start my day yet. All of a sudden, the bed was shaking, our floor was creaking, and there was an audible rumble.

My first thought…"That was an earthquake."

My second thought…"This isn't California, you moron. You just imagined it."

After I turned on the TV, I figured out that I'm actually not a moron. (That's always a good feeling.) We experienced a rare, midwest earthquake.

This morning was a good reminder of how much I'm not in control of things in my life. My house, which I thought was built on firm, solid ground, was rocking and rolling this morning. Guess the ground isn't so firm or solid after all.

When the very ground you walk on starts to shake, you begin to realize how uncertain everything is in this life. There is nothing that is solid in our world. This life offers us no guarantees.

Fortunately, for the people of God, we know one thing for sure. This shaky world is going to be replaced with a rock solid eternity. That's a place where there will be no more death, or mourning, or crying, or pain, or bankruptcy, or divorce, or cancer, or war, or hunger, or criticism, or hatred, or…

earthquakes.

Country Cooking

Recently, Nicki and I had dinner in one of our favorite country diners: The Fireside in Georgetown. Good grub, that's for sure.

But, as I sat at our booth enjoying some delicious fried chicken, I looked out the window and I saw a chicken walking across the parking lot. You can't make this stuff up!

How do you know you're dining in the country? You're eating fried chicken while watching tomorrow night's entrée strut across the parking lot.

Ten Things You Didn't (and never wanted to) Know About Me

1. I've never had turducken, but I'd love to try it.

2. I've never seen a lot of movie classics, such as Gone with the Wind, Casablanca, or It's a Wonderful Life. (I've seen parts of the last one, but not the whole thing.)

3. I've never been west of Kansas City, Missouri.

4. I don't like cereal dust. You know, the dust that comes out of the cereal box when you pour out the last bowl. Ruins my morning.

5. I've received one speeding ticket in my life. Got it in a small town on the Ohio River called Higginsport. Barney nailed me in his speed trap.

6. I won't order an item off a menu if the name sounds too girly…even if there is a picture and it looks delicious. If I feel like less of a man by saying the name, I will not order it.

7. I think golf is the devil's game. I used to play in high school, but then I figured out that I was just spending a lot of money to get mad, and to occasionally say words that I shouldn't say. So I gave it up. Do not ask me to play. I'm not going to do it. Winston Churchill got it right when he said, "Golf is a game whose aim is to hit a very small ball into an even smaller hole, with weapons singularly ill-designed for the purpose."

8. I don't like roller coasters. I've never had motion sickness in my life, except for the few occasions when I rode a roller coaster. So, just like golf, don't ask me to ride them. Not gonna happen.

9. I hate bologna. Seriously. Hate it. My son, Ryan, loves it. Every time I make him a bologna sandwich, I immediately wash my hands afterward to get the bologna feel/smell off of them.

10. I want to see the aurora borealis (northern lights) before I die. Actually, most of my dream trips/vacations are in cold climates. Nicki doesn't understand this.