Free Book this Weekend on Amazon Kindle

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New Book Release!

For those of you who haven't made it over to the GrapplersChurch.tv site yet, thought I'd swing by here and remind you that I have a new book out. It was released on Sept 26th and went to #1 in the Fatherhood subcategory which made me very proud because my son was my target audience when writing it. Only 99 cents. Go over and check it out!

5 Non-Traditional Podcast Traditional Christians Need

Copyright 2014 Scott Blair

Most believers I know are listening to podcast by Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer, TD Jakes, and Joel Osteen again. Those podcast are great but if you are looking to venture into some new territory let me point the way. I am an avid consumer of podcast, possibly even an addict. I really like tuning into podcast that challenge me to consider new ways of doing things; whether it be getting in shape, making money, or walking with Jesus.

I consider myself a bit of a podcast expert as well. I am currently a freelancer that produces/hosts two podcast and writes copy for a 3rd. I also have my own podcast that was #1 in its category for New & Noteworthy as well as it has continued in the "What's Hot" section of Christian Podcast on iTunes for over a year. Between the 3 shows I am heard on (excluding the one I write copy for) we have a combined total of over 1.5 million downloads. (Yes, I'm still for hire too. But only if you are one of the first 3 ministers mentioned above).

I am always on the look out for new podcast to learn from, be inspired by, and enjoy. Churches that just take their Sunday sermons and have the tech guy upload them to iTunes were not considered in this list. Also, if you had a bow-tie on in your podcast photo in iTunes it was an automatic disqualification ;-)

Here is a list of 5 Podcast that you probably aren't listening to and I think you should. All of them can be found on iTunes (and probably Stitcher on your Android phone).

1. Christ is All   - by Frank Viola - I was first turned on to Frank when a friend of mine bought me his book "Pagan Christianity?" That book was a game changer for me. His blog, sermons, and books drive home Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! I am always challenged by Frankie V!

From his blog; "If you are someone whose heart cry is: “There’s got to be more to the Lord, to the Christian faith, and to church than this,” then this blog is for you. Let me explain . . .

Most Christians know that something is wrong with contemporary Christianity. They want to break free from the tyranny of the status quo. The two alternatives that dominate Christian culture today is spiritual complacency on the one hand or performance-based religiosity on the other.

Modern-day Christianity is 10 miles wide and one inch deep."

2. Church Planter Podcast - by Peyton Jones and Pete Mitchell. By far the best Christian podcast out right now for me. It has everything; intelligence, humor, authenticity, great topics, 80's pop culture references, great guest, and I could go on and on. I have been on their show and Peyton has been on mine.......these guys are starting to feel like family. They also do "Church Planter Magazine". Get that on your iPad as well.

From the Website: If you are a church planter, soon to be church planter, or leader of an established church, that is looking for more insight and direction on what God is doing through church planting to reach the lost, then this is the podcast for you! Every week, the creators behind Church Planter Magazine, Pete Mitchell and Peyton Jones, deliver a powerful, funny, raw and relevant hour on church planting issues, solutions, and stories.

Peyton Jones is founding coach of New Breed Church Planting UK/USA (and author of Church Zero). He has worked as a tentmaker, a firefighter, factory worker, and psychiatric nurse, bringing all these experiences to the table in ministry.

Jones received his MA Theology: Pastoral Studies from Wales Evangelical School of Theology and served as the evangelist for Lloyd-Jones’s legendary Sandfields church, Aberavon.

Pete Mitchell, in addition to being quite the handsome dude, is a leading authority in Instant Results Marketing for brick and mortar businesses (for everyone born after 1992, brick and mortar refers to the big buildings you use to meet up with friends at that have “stuff” inside that you get your parents to buy for you). He is the Chief Marketing Mercenary at Big Guns Marketing. He has appeared on hundreds of radio and TV shows including CNN and KABC (by the same token, he despises Internet radio and has turned down every “opportunity” to appear on these shows).

He also runs a financial services firm that focuses on late stage college planning and retirement planning.

Lastly, besides being a husband and a father, he also sits on the board of directors for Apologetics.com.

3. The Bad Christian Podcast - by Matt, Toby, and Joey. So this podcast is pretty new to me but I'm getting sucked in. I'm a hip hop head but I guess these guys are part of a pretty big band that I should know about .......but I don't. I have a love/hate relationship with them already and I'm only about 4 episodes in. I hate them because they ramble too much. I keep screaming at my smartphone, "Get to the guest already! No one cares!" But at the same time, they keep making me laugh because it's like I'm hanging with my buddies listening to them rip on one another. So the same reason I want them to shut up is the same reason I am starting to feel connected to them. Maybe they secretly know what they are doing.

They have great guest on and are without a doubt, the most authentic podcast out there. Be forewarned, there is foul language, all the way to the "F" bomb, but I am jealous that they are so transparent. Even if you don't agree, it's good to be stretched like this. Plus, the southern accents make it hard to stay mad at them.

4. Rethinking Hell - by Chris Date. Chris is, to me, a true renaissance man. He is a huge powerlifter that can win a debate against well prepared theologians. It's just not fair one man has so much. Chris and the Rethinking Hell group have given me the most challenging doctrine shift that I've had in 20 plus years of Christianity.

From the website: Rethinking Hell is a central resource for a view on hell variously called conditionalism, conditional immortality, or annihilationism. As Evangelical Christians, we commend the view only in a form compatible with that scope. On the Rethinking Hell podcast we interview notable conditionalists, respond to the challenges of critics, present the stories of people who once held to the traditional view but are now rethinking hell, and much more.

5. Wrestling with God - by Scott Blair. The first shall be last and the last shall be first suckas! See, by listing my own podcast last, God will make it first. You guys still haven't learned how to use Scripture to your advantage. Plus, I can teach you sumptin about being humble. I possess a lot of humility. Just ask me.

From iTunes: The podcast features Scott Blair interviewing front line and sometimes controversial authors/ministers on topics like demons, tithing, breaking tradition, hip hop, gays, and more. Authors like Peyton Jones, Tim Kurek, and Tony "The Beat Poet" Kriz will have you wrestling with the questions the traditional church won't let you ask. Like Jacob, we encourage you to "Grab a hold of God, and don't let go until He changes you."

What's Wrong with this Moment?

This has become a really powerful question for me lately.

"What's wrong with this moment?"

I have to admit the last several years have really been an up and down roller coaster for me emotionally, spiritually, physically, mentally, and financially. I feel like stress, depression, anger, and confusion have gotten the best of me. I've somewhat lost my identity. I lost that confidence and God-esteem that carried me for years. It has all been drowned out by stress and uncertainty.

There is a concept I hear a lot about that I normally associate with Eastern philosophy/religion and that is the idea of "being present." I'm discovering it for myself in the Scriptures though and I must say it's a game changer.

Most of our anxiety and stress comes from places in the future and past, places we can't go to from this present moment. Scripture teaches us that it is a waste of energy to worry.

Matthew 6:25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, ... 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single foot to his height ? ...31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ...34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Luke 12:25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life[b]? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

The power of "worrying" will not fix your problems anymore than it has the ability to make you taller or live longer. IT IS A WASTE OF TIME AND ENERGY! (in fact will probably make you shorter and die more rapidly).

There are things we all need to be concerned about. The test results of an important medical exam? The outcome of our court hearing? If we will make the sale? How are we going to pay the rent? I would be worried if you "weren't" concerned about things like this; but freaking out, losing sleep, being angry with others, falling into depression, and so on...will not change the result of your medical exam or pay the rent.

In fact, I believe it creates a negative feedback loop, that keeps you in a bad place. (We will get more into that in another blogpost.)

So when I find myself starting to go down this road lately, I've started asking myself, "What's wrong with THIS MOMENT?" I know that scary thing I'm concerned about is just around the corner, a mere few days away, but I'm not there, I'm here. I'm in this moment. When I start to look at this moment, I start to find so many things to be grateful for. I don't miss the moments with my son, friends, and family that stress recently has been robbing me of. I don't miss the mindset of the thousands of things that are actually beautiful in my life currently. I am reminded of how blessed I really am.

"In your presence there is fullness of joy." Psalm 16:11 One of the reasons that worship times are so powerful for us is because it causes us to become "present" in His presence. It is one place that we learned to practice this idea of being present. We allow ourselves to focus in on Him, letting the world fade away, leaving our worries and concerns behind, and give the Lord what is due to Him. We must be "present" in His presence to experience the fullness of joy His presence provides." The problems and future worries still exist outside but we are able to get lost in the moment of being with Him.

Learn to worship not only in church and song, but in mindset and spirit. That same intention of focusing on his presence and what you can be grateful for is available to you even as work or go about your normal routine.

What's wrong with this moment? Nothing, for He is here with me.

"God Hates Fags" guy found out today if he is right or not?

I see a lot of FB, Twitter, and blog post celebrating the death of Fred Phelps, the pastor who headed the Westboro Baptist Church, an independent Baptist church based in Topeka, Kansas, prior to his excommunication in 2013. Phelps became infamous for protesting the funerals of soldiers and members of the LGBT community. Probably most well known for his "God Hates Fags" signs during the funeral protest.

Most of these celebration post are, of course, from military families and the LGBT community. I would expect his funeral to be picketed from members of both of these groups. I also see a lot of Christians celebrating his passing. There is a side of me that feels it too. Though most of us do not believe he represented our community, it was still embarrassing having the likes of this man with the title pastor and publicly quoting scriptures.

I want to address this post to my Christian family, those of us who are celebrating. I want to challenge you with two things to "grapple" with if I may. They are things I struggle with so of course I don't want to be alone and I'm going to push you in the pool.

The first is the "ideology" that Phelps perpetrated is not that far removed from some of the preaching and belief systems I have witnessed and participated in over the last 20 years in Christendom. I once too believed that "God hated fags", and so did a lot of other ministers behind closed doors, and in the secret places of our hearts. We dressed up the sermons in scripture and politics so it wasn't as brash as a picket sign at a funeral, but the message was the same. In fact, a part of our heart felt or may still feel this way. We don't admit it, maybe not to our congregations, friends, or even spouses verbally, but our actions and underlying tones reveal it. Phelps had the balls to put it on display to the world, yet a lot of us are afraid to come out of the closet with our little "hate" monster. We don't rebuke Pat Robertson when, live on the 700 Club, he suggests gays with AIDS wear rings to cut and infect others. We don't speak up when a North Carolina pastor suggest that gays and lesbians be rounded up and held behind electrified fences until they die off. If Fred Phelps does not represent us, these men do. They absolutely represent Christianity in this country and our silence aligns us with them. So I ask you, do you stay quiet because on some hidden level, you secretly agree with them?

The second thing is does our celebration line up with scripture?

17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
    and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,
18 lest the Lord see it and be displeased,
    and turn away his anger from him. - Prov 24

Ask yourself some questions:

Did you pray for your enemy as Scripture commands? You took the time to publicly celebrate his death but did you take the time to secretly pray for him when he was alive?

Do you believe in a literal hell and believe he went there? How could any Christian believe in such a place and also celebrate when someone goes there, even an enemy? If our enemy goes there it is not a time for celebration, but for mourning. Did we do our part to win our enemy over to God (see question above)?

For those former members of his congregation and family who are being bombarded by the media and world at large right now, how would the Spirit lead us to deal with them? To picket them? To celebrate publicly? To say good riddance? To remind them it is "us" vs "them" so the world doesn't associate them with the True Church? Or would we be wise to treat them with sympathy and love by demonstrating compassion and forgiveness? Apparently something never preached before in their pulpit.

I'm shutting my glass door. Let the rocks fly ;-)

Book Release!

Some of the blog post that were originally here are now missing? It's because some have been rewritten and used in my new book. Very excited about this and all the support.

Book is already a top 40 devotional on Amazon and included on their Hot New Release page.

You can get your copy here. Please spread the word. Thank you Grapplers Church fam!