Book Review: Sex, Lies & Religion by Randy Elrod

Sex, Lies & Religion by Randy Elrod

I just finished reading Randy Elrod’s new book, Sex, Lies & Religion today.  I know Randy from attending the Recreate conference back in 2009 and recently along with a horde of other bloggers agreed to review the book prior to it’s release on February 14th.

Let me first say it was extremely bold of Randy to approach such a topic.  It is a serious No-Holds-Barred discussion on sex.  Since the fall of man, God’s design for sex has been continually twisted into something that it shouldn’t be.  Throughout history this has led to many misconceptions and false-teachings on the subject of sex from within the church.

In Sex, Lies & Religion Randy tackles some of those misconceptions, or “lies” as he calls them.  You may not agree with everything you read in this book, but I think that is fine.  I have a feeling Randy would be overjoyed to find out, that at the very least, it ignited dialog and made people think.

To some this book could be really liberating, to some it could simply be affirmation that you’re not crazy after all,  and then to some it could be a pretty shocking read.

I was really impressed with the quality of the writing and it is obvious that years of research has been poured into it.  I think it would be a fantastic book to read as married couple so that together you may learn more of God’s perspective of sex within a healthy relationship.

I wish Randy every success with the book and I finish with a quote.

“It is in no way intended to be a sex manual or a theological treatise. My wish is that it will cause all of us to examine closely our personal longings, our marriages, our relationships, and what we teach our children about sex. Perhaps it’s time to utilize the Bible as our sex manual. And for those aspects where it is silent, we then depend on an open dialogue with those we trust.”

BUY SEX, LIES & RELIGION HERE.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from cre:ate 2.0 Publishing to read and post a review on my site. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

CD Release Party :: 17 April 2010

I have some exciting news!  The Justin Teseniar Band are releasing a brand new CD – Holding On To Hope - on April  17, 2010.  To celebrate the release, there will be concert on that date at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Hillsborough, NC on 7pm (doors open 6pm).

It promises to be a great night as I’ve heard a few of the tracks already and they are amazing!  The band have a great passion to lead people into worshipping God.  I like Justin’s heart for God and have recently enjoyed getting together with him to write songs.  He has been a real encouragement in my own song writing.

I am also soooo thrilled to be invited by the band to participate in the concert.  It will probably be the first time any of my recent songs will be played live in public.  I actually hope to have an EP recorded for the event, so people can take the songs home with them if they choose to!

So, don’t forget – 17 April 2010 - come out and see us, we’d love to see you!  Pass the news on to your family and friends.  You can use the poster below to help spread the word.  Thanks for your support!!

Holding On To Hope - CD Release Concert

Video: You’re The Only One

This is a new song that I just finished this weekend.  It started with the first verse and I really liked the word liberate in there.  The chorus followed and then verse two.  The bridge took a bit of work to come up with something that lifted the song.

The song is about how God is the only one who can truly rescue us from our (at times self-induced) messed up lives.  He is the only one who can liberate us.  Without God there are only short-term measures.  Our real needs can only be met by Him.  True freedom and true satisfaction are in God alone.

The song writing momentum was helped along by Justin Teseniar, who kept bugging me to finish it.

Watch “You’re The Only One” on YouTube.

“You’re The Only One” Lyrics.

Snow Day

The weather people got it right for once.  It actually snowed like they said it would.  We didn’t venture out very far today.  We went for a walk and then came back to mess about in the garden for a couple of hours.

Since most of the churches have cancelled tomorrow’s services (including our own), we’ll probably be right here, doing more of the same.

Lizzie all wrapped up.

Frozen brook.

Nathan building a fort.

Noah on the surf board.

Katie with her ice berg.

You Are The Only One

You’re the only One who can liberate me
You’re the only One who can liberate
From this sinking sand You have steadied my feet
You’re the only One who can liberate me

I’m so messed up inside
So messed up inside
I’m really good at digging holes
So deep I cannot climb
There’s only one way out
There’s only one way out

You’re the only One who can satisfy me
You’re the only One who can satisfy
In this broken world You are all that I need
You’re the only One who can satisfy me

And I can see You reaching out to me
Light chases shadows forcing darkness to flee
Your Spirit lifts me and sets me free
Your embrace is waiting to restore me

Story Church – Week 3 (inc. Set List)

• My Saviour Lives – Jon Egan & Glenn Packiam
• Happy Day – Tim Hughes
• From The Inside Out – Joel Houston
• Cannons – Phil Wickham
• Jesus Paid It All – John E. Coates, John T. Grape, and Elvina M. Hall

Another great morning at Story Church today.

It was a long time since I’ve played My Saviour Lives, and first time at Story Church.  It went well, and is great as a service opener.  We introduced Happy Day a couple of weeks back, and played it again today.  Love that song!

I enjoyed how Jeremy talked today about Abraham and Lot, and how it’s important where we plant ourselves and get our nourishment.

After the message we started off with From The Inside Out in C.  It was pretty powerful and the congregation really got into it.  We ended the song holding the G which allowed us to go straight into Cannons.

The final song in this mid-section was Jesus Paid It All.  We do the version with the bridge ‘O Praise the One who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead…‘.  Love it!

For closing, we replayed My Saviour Lives.

Story Church – Week 2 (inc. Set List)

It is not uncommon to feel disappointed by the service that follows a church plant’s launch day – or so we’re told.  I can honestly say that yesterday, I did not feel one ounce of disappointment, and I would say no-one else on the team did either.

I feel so blessed to be a part of a church that is willing to forgo plans, and rebel against all the manuals, to do what should and must be done.  We want to be a church that is Jesus, not only to our local community, but the world.

I am really enjoying leading people in worship each week, and constantly desire for us worship God more passionately and authentically as we grow as a church.

Sometimes I find myself judging a worship service on how many people stood up, or how many people raised their hand, or even raised both – at the same time!  It’s hard for me not to fall into that trap.  I know in my heart that God could very well be ministering to that person sitting down, but my head is telling me, “This song is rocking! How can they not want to stand up and enter in?”

The band was awesome yesterday.  Really good!  Each week we seem to be getting better at it and right there is another trap for me.  Yes, we want to get better, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, but how well the band performs does not relate to how much God moves in our service.  God help us if it is!

We focused primarily on Haiti yesterday.  Even though the set-list was selected days before the earthquake hit, the songs hit home and I think reassured people of God’s character and viewpoint in the midst of such tragedies.

• Everlasting God – Brenton Brown
• You Never Let Go – Matt Redman
• Consuming Fire – Tim Hughes
• You Alone Can Rescue – Matt Redman
• God Of This City – Bluetree

I really liked how all the songs turned out, but You Alone Can Rescue and God Of This City were definitely the highlights for me.  It was the first time I’d ever played God Of This City.  I love this words of this song and how close they are to our vision of church.

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Check out what other churches did this weekend over at The Worship Community website.

Haiti Needs You

PLEASE GIVE and PRAY!

Haiti Earthquake

Haiti really does need YOU.  Since the earthquake hit on 12th January, the area has been in such chaos that it has been difficult to even assess the full impact.

Compassion International are working rapidly to assess the situation and determine the full extent of damage:

• Sadly, they anticipate there will be many deaths.
• They anticipate thousands of children and families will have lost everything.
• They also anticipate many of their church-based child development centers will have been destroyed.

Compassion sponsors and donors serve more than 65,000 children in Haiti. At least a third of them live in the areas that were hardest hit.

The people of Haiti are in complete shock.  They need your help.  Compassion International have people on the ground.  In fact as I write this, they are still searching for some of their own workers.

Donations are very much needed and ALL funds raised in response to the Haiti earthquake will be used immediately to provide for Compassion-assisted children and families affected by this crisis. Any funds raised in excess will be stewarded by Compassion for additional and future disaster relief efforts.

You can provide immediate relief today.

• $35 helps provide a relief pack filled with enough food and water to sustain a family for one week.
• $70 gift helps care for their needs for two weeks.
• $105 helps provide relief packs filled with enough food and water to sustain two families for two weeks.
• $210 gift helps care for two families’ needs.
• $525 helps provide relief packs filled with enough food and water to sustain 10 families for two weeks.
• $1,050 gift helps care for 10 families’ needs.
• $1,500 helps rebuild a home.
• $2,100 helps supply 20 families with the basics for three weeks.

Due to the high number of responses it may take longer than normal to process your transaction.

Haiti Earthquake – Donate Now.

On top of this, please pray for the people of Haiti.  Pray that through this chaos that God brings them peace and restoration and hope.  Pray for the hurts they will have to endure.  Pray for the psychological scars they may carry.  Pray that the fears subside.  Pray for supplies to reach the affected people.  Pray that even now, people continue to be pulled alive from the rubble.  Pray.  Pray for the soldiers on the ground.  Pray for all the missionary organizations.  Just pray.

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FINANCIAL INTEGRITY: The FBI is warning of several Haiti charity scams that have popped up in the wake of this earthquake.

They are suggesting that donations only be made to organizations monitored and rated by CharityNavigator.org and The American Institute of Philanthropy. Both organizations have given Compassion International their highest approval ranking. Compassion International is the only non-profit in it’s category to receive eight consecutive years of four star rating from CharityNavigator.org.

Story Church – Better Than Irish Potato Bread!

We launched!!  The day we had been planning for has came and went.

We had a brand new sound desk to setup this week.  However, we spent the whole evening on the Thursday before testing it.  We were out so late, I was half afraid none of the band would come back near the church!

On the Sunday morning, setup went really smooth.  Dan was super as usual and got us all sound checked and put up with our cheek.

We had some new pipe and drape to streamline the room and take the edge off the ’school’ look and feel.  I think they worked well.  We probably need a little more of it.  We also had a new projector which practically set itself up.

Congregation wise, there was a great turnout – much more than in previous preview services.  I think we even had to fetch more chairs?  At least that’s what it looked like.

The band started playing at 10am on the dot.  We rocked Happy Day.  It’s a Tim Hughes song that I’ve been wanting to do for ages.  It was great.

Glory To God Forever was next.  It’s a solid song that we’ll get more use out of yet.  There is more Fee songs on that album I need to start learning.

After announcements and a short meet-and-greet we played Your Grace Is Enough, For Who You Are and Holy Is The Lord.  To be honest, I’m pretty much tired of singing For Who You Are now.  It drags.  I’m nearly dozing off during the chorus.  That song is done.

Jeremy’s message was excellent.  Probably the best I’ve heard him speak so far (not that the previous occasions were not good Jeremy!).  I just knew that God was speaking to people through it.  Minds and hearts were being engaged.  Confirmations were being made for others.  God was there.

After the message the band got back on stage.  Now, none of us would consider ourselves to be experts but it just seemed so relaxed up there.  We were having fun.  Even when I started in the wrong key for our rendition of Happy Day at the end, we had a laugh, adjusted my capo and carried on.

Well, the story doesn’t end here.  You see, this is just the beginning.  I’m learning that church stuff is busy and I’ve got to stay on top of it.  Always planning the next setlist, always looking out for new songs and most importantly, talented (and willing) musicians!

I do have to say we are blessed with the talents we do have already at Story Church and we must remember it’s all about growing other people into their gifts and callings.  Ultimately helping fulfill God’s story for their lives.

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In case you’re wondering about the title of this post, this tweet might explain it. ;-)

Recipe: Irish Potato Bread

Irish Potato Bread

One of the best things you can do with left over potatoes is make Irish potato bread. The great thing is, it’s real easy too.

• Add some salt and butter. Quantity will depend on how much potatoes you have, and your personal taste. I added a little salt and around 1/4 cup of salted butter.
• Mash up really good and smooth.
• Get some plain general purpose flour and add a little. Mix with in with your hands. Keep adding flour and kneading until you have a good dough. Don’t add too much flour or you’ll dry out the dough.
• Cut the dough into sections and roll out each part, one at a time. You should sprinkle some flour on the work surface before flattening them out. I didn’t use a rolling pin, but just used my hands.
• Heat up a skillet. No oil should be needed. Place in a few sections at a time and brown each side.

Serve hot with a little butter.  It also goes great served with egg and bacon…!

Left over spuds!

Mashed up with butter and salt.

Add flour and knead into dough.

Roll out and cut.

Place in hot skillet.

Brown both sides.

Irish Potato Bread