Home to All Random Thoughts | Random Thoughts From a Cluttered Mind | Kevin Sorensen

Monday Montage

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:38:12 -0600

The first post today comes after a very frustrating Monday morning. Can't go into all that just didn't go right, well or even half-way, but this about sums it up:

Here are the lyrics:

Bad Day

by Daniel Powter

Where is the moment we needed the most

You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost

…

Some Reasons to Pray

Sat, 08 Dec 2007 18:47:54 -0600

Tomorrow morning, my family & I will wake up with very few fears (other than "Will our furnaces at church stay running?" "Will the weather keep more people away this Lord's Day?" or "I hope the Advent candles stay lit this week.") We will gather together at Cornerstone with other believers in order…

Recipe for Goodies

Sat, 08 Dec 2007 08:11:57 -0600

Rebecca is soliciting recipes for the Christmas season, so I thought I'd oblige with at least one of my favorites. Ann makes these each year and they never last more than about two days. What really irks me is when she makes them and then has the audacity to share them at gatherings (family,…

The Thursday Three

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 15:12:50 -0600

I didn't get as early a start as I'd hoped with this today. Perhaps when I can spend more time reading, writing, blogging and studying than shoveling snow I'll be able to keep up a bit better. Enough with the grumbling and complaining. Here's three for today:

Three Things You Won't Hear Me Saying…

Ungodliness

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 10:18:23 -0600

Each Wednesday, I've been posting about Jerry Bridges' book, Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins we Tolerate. So far, Bridges has done a great job of presenting the problem - indwelling sin; helping us to realize what an awful, corrupting thing this is; and, showing us that the solution is the…

Tuesday Reflections

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 10:22:16 -0600

This past Lord's Day was a bit different than most for us here in Minnesota. You see, Saturday brought winter to bear upon us with about 3-4 inches of snow early, then freezing drizzle and sleet pretty much all day after that. By the time late evening rolled around, everything was covered with a…

Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 10:35:09 -0600

Ben Stein has a movie coming out in February. I've been reading about it for a couple of months now and am curious to see it when it finally arrives in theaters. Ben is a Jew who believes in God as a loving Creator (I really have no idea what his thoughts on Jesus as Messiah are). "Expelled" is…

Friday's Physical Fit

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 02:57:58 -0600

I'm just gonna show a couple of pictures and you take your best guess how my Friday's starting off.

Here's hoping I'll be able to walk fairly straight-up by Sunday morning, 'cuz right now, I look like an elderly John Wayne moseyin' down the road.

It's Thursday!

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 17:26:41 -0600

And that has usually meant my Three-4-Thursday presentation of three things or three groups of things that are floating around in my mind, on other blogs or the 'net. Well, here they are today, with no strict relationship to anything.

Let's face it, when it comes to Christmas, I'm quite often a…

Directions for Dealing With Sin

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 05:26:06 -0600

I’m currently reading through John Owen’s three works on the moritification of sin, dealing with temptation and the power of indwelling sin. There’s a group of us engaged in discussion over at Challies’ place. It’s not too late to join by any stretch; we’ve just finished chapter 2 of Mortification…

Mom Song

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 21:26:30 -0600

I'm sure most of you may have seen this already; it's probably been around for a while... I don't know. I do know that my sister-in-law sent it to me tonight. It's really funny, very well done, and boy am I glad they included the lyrics with it! Enjoy... and sit up straight!

The Mom Song

Get…

Advent Conspiracy

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 14:39:28 -0600

Since I included some reflections from this past Lord's Day yesterday, I'll post about something a bit different here today. When Christmas comes around each year, I turn into more of a curmudgeon than usual. It's the whole commercialization of what should be a "holy-day", at least for God's…

Monday Montage

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 09:53:01 -0600

Good morning! I trust you all had a tremendous Thanksgiving Weekend. We did - the house was full of people (15 of us in a small home), full of mouth-watering scents, and filled with Thanksgiving. As both sets of our parents age, it's a treasure to have them for just one more holiday.

Our Lord's Day…

If They're Serious... I'm Laughing

Fri, 23 Nov 2007 14:45:19 -0600

This letter to the editor of our local paper appeared on Thanksgiving Day, of all days. Who says newspaper editors don't have a sense of humor:

Meat adds to greenhouse effect

11/21/2007 7:15:36 PM

Most of us blame automotive and industrial emissions for global warming, and rightly so. But animal…

Thankful

Fri, 23 Nov 2007 10:10:20 -0600

Yesterday was a delightful day at the Sorensen household. Beginning at somewhere very near 4 AM, Ann awoke in order to start the massive preparations for the day. I'm usually up around that time, so 4 AM wasn't too big a deal. However, the smell of carmelized onions at that hour just doesn't cut it…

Be of Sin the Double Cure

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 04:34:57 -0600

Rock of ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee;

Let the water and the blood from Thy riven side which flowed,

Be of sin the double cure; save me from its guilt and power.

We've seen the depths - of our sin.

We seen the heights - of Christ's work in us.

The malignancy has met its match in…

How's Your Weltanschauung?

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 08:52:28 -0600

Sorry, just couldn't pass this up. It's making the rounds on the blogs and I guess I'll help it get there too.

(just in case you're wondering)

Tuesday's Ruminations

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 05:06:15 -0600

I've begun that routine of reflecting back on the previous Lord's Day on Tuesday's posts. "Why on Tuesday? Why not reflect on Monday's when it's still fresh?" someone asked. There are several reasons:

1. It would be just that... too fresh and I don't think I would be objective. It would be more…

All I Can Do is Bow the Knee

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 17:46:28 -0600

I listened/watched this on Saturday evening and again early on Sunday morning. It helped get me in the right frame of mind for worship. You can see if it doesn't do the same for you... worship at any time.

Hard Hitting Sermon Jams

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 17:27:15 -0600

Through other blogs, I discovered this site a while back. Sermon Jams are kinda cool - mixing music and sermon snippets. I don't think it would work on Sunday morning at Cornerstone, but you never know.

Tony just posted this today and I offer it to you who come here. Be prepared for good, solid,…

Monday Montage

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 04:51:26 -0600

Well, it's a somewhat foggy-minded Monday morning. That's not an unusual occurrence for me on Mondays, which I do not take off like some traditional pastors. I'm usually not much good on Mondays if I stay home and my lovely wife, Ann, would want me to be of some good. So, just to prove that I'm of…

Thursday Three Update

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 05:18:29 -0600

This just in... sorry, but I couldn't resist (I know, I know. I have no self-control). Two of the three made me groan. The third, well, I'm going to a breakfast in the community this morning. I feel some obligation to be there, but there's a little bit of Rat coming through (I'll deal with that in…

The Thursday Three

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 04:22:39 -0600

Three things you'll never hear me say:

1. "I'd love to go rock climbing with you, Charlie."

2. "No thank you, I don't need another thing for my computer."

3. "I'm gonna give up my Mac and get a brand new PC and install Vista on it."

Three quotes:

1. I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells.…

Modern Parables

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 20:39:42 -0600

In our Adult Bible Class at Cornerstone EFC, we're just getting ready to wrap up "The Peacemaking Church" curriculum. That always leaves me wondering, "Where to next?" For reasons that I'll leave off of here, we've enjoyed the video-style curriculum, but found that we don't dig into the Word as…

The Remedy for Sin

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 20:35:23 -0600

It's back to our "respectable sins." So far, Jerry Bridges has nearly left us without hope in his description of our sin(s).

"So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law…

Can you read this?

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 10:16:41 -0600

According to this site, my blog reads at around a high school level. Not bad, considering who's writing it. I'm sure it varies from post to post. But still, not bad. When I've run my sermons through Microsoft Word's grammar check and have it tell me what level of reading/grammar I'm using, it…

Reflections on this Past Lord's Day

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 16:42:08 -0600

Sunday was a good day of worship, teaching, and fellowship.

Our service was focused upon the theme of forgiveness: God's forgiveness of us and our forgiveness of others. This gave our worship leaders a bit of a challenge, as far as music is concerned... not many songs, choruses or hymns out there…

Monday Montage of Clutter

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 05:12:14 -0600

This just might make it into Jeff Foxworthy's "You Might Be A Redneck" list:

"Just because it's excessive doesn't necessarily mean it's wrong." Right.

This is why I do lots of premarital counseling.

Police suspect alcohol was involved. Really? I think the first clue was that the man was sitting in…

You Provide the Caption

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 04:55:39 -0600

it's Monday. Yesterday was great, but as usual, my mind's in a bit of a fog on Monday morning, so I present this montage of images, challenging you to come up with a caption. Have fun.

O Christ, the Healer

Sat, 10 Nov 2007 04:38:39 -0600

One of the songs we'll be singing tomorrow is: O Christ, the Healer.

Our worship leader chose this song because of the final three verses. As we're contemplating the forgiveness of God and its affects upon our forgiveness of others, it's really tremendously appropriate. See if you don't agree.

…

Getting Ready for the Lord's Day

Sat, 10 Nov 2007 04:18:56 -0600

Saturday is usually a "clean up" day for me, in terms of the teaching and preaching that will take place on Sunday. Today, I'll put all finishing touches on my message, the next-to-last in a series paralleling our Adult Bible Class, on "Being a Peacemaking Church." My message is entitled, "The…

Not my usual posting style...

Sat, 10 Nov 2007 04:13:57 -0600

... but I'm not sure I'll let this one slip.

I've had very few run-ins with hyper-dispensational types or dispensational types, period. A very dear friend of mine (he passed away in September) was perhaps, one of the finest examples of a godly, dispensationally-reformed man I ever had the privilege…

Intriguing Video

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 23:44:40 -0600

I came across this today. It shows where we've arrived at with the Internet.

Good or bad... I guess you'll have to judge.

Click here to go to the page with the lyrics/links to all the many parts of this video

[Warning: I do not endorse all of this, but, this is such a part of our culture, it…

Things I'm Thankful For...

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 17:19:45 -0600

Rebecca is posting lots of items of thanks. I thought I'd add a few here and keep thinking of more as Thanksgiving Day approaches. I'd exhort any of my readers to do the same.

I'm thankful that God would send His One and Only Son to die for such a one as I. Along with John Newton, I can say,…

Two4Thursday! A Bonus

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 16:35:00 -0600

Erica didn't tag me (and a great big THANK YOU for that), but when I read her entry for today, I said to myself, "Self, you can do that." So here 'tis:

Two names you go by: Kevin & Pastor (there are quite a few at church who simply call me "Pastor" no matter where I am or what I'm doing; I'm…

Thursday Threes

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 07:53:06 -0600

While Erica does her "Friday Five", I usually am off on Fridays (working hard at something other than "just" pastoring); so, I thought I try a "new feature" - Thursday Threes. What I intend to try is this: list three things about me – likes, dislikes, favorites (although I'll warn you right now, I…

The Bad News Is...

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 05:51:22 -0600

Well, it’s Wednesday. For many, the week is half over. For me, it’s just halfway to Sunday (I blogged about this previously). And since it’s Wednesday, I’m trying to establish a pattern, so today, I’ll be posting on books I’m reading/studying/reviewing. Back to Jerry Bridges’ Respectable Sins,…

Some Random Clutter

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 02:39:53 -0500

Just to make sure I don't inflict too much guilt through the review/walk-thru of Bridges book, I'll add a few of the random things floating around in my head (by request!).

To start with, I came across this amazing video (sorry, I can't remember where the link came from). Very moving story (if…

Whatever Happened to Sin?

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 02:39:53 -0500

Sin doesn’t get much good press any more. In fact, it gets very little press at all, especially in the church. Robert Schuller once claimed that he’d never preach on sin... it was simply too negative. People wanted to hear something positive.

Well, of course they do. Of course WE do. Sin is…

Ordinarily Extraordinary & Extraordinarily Ordinary

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 02:39:53 -0500

Chapter 1 of Jerry Bridges book, Respectable Sins: Confronting the sins we tolerate, is titled: Ordinary Saints. I've taken that and some up with the mouthful you see as the title for this entry.

Christians truly are extraordinary: we're saints, after all. The moment we receive Christ, we achieve…

It's Tuesday & Sunday's a-comin'!

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 06:03:35 -0500

I've been working on increasing my awareness of worship throughout the week in order to heighten my sense of worship on Sunday morning. For as long as I can remember (22+ years now that I've been in ministry), the day which has been the height of ministry for me has been the day upon which the…

Here's Some of the Clutter! :)

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 06:03:35 -0500

Just some things I've seen today, so far. Hope you find them to your "edification."

Last Sunday was Reformation Sunday. And in that spirit Tominthebox News Network reported on the goings-on at Liberty University.

I'll not step on Rebecca's toes and try to do what she does, but her Sunday Hymns…

Apologies Forthcoming

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 20:30:08 -0500

I’ll have to apologize and ask the forgiveness of those who read this blog. I’ve been exceedingly delinquent in writing. Bill Isley passed away during this time and his death has hit me harder than I thought it would. Bill was one of my parishioners, but also, perhaps my dearest friend. We…

Weird News & Views

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 11:50:08 -0500

DOH! Where'd I put that receipt! Oh, that's right. I bought a Mac+ in '87, not a Lisa in '83. Blast!

And the next time you think about robbing somebody ('cuz I know so many of my readers think about these kind of things), read this first and beware.

And finally, I now know why it was so hard…

Series on how we can bring glory to God

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 11:21:08 -0500

On our Wednesday evening gatherings at Cornerstone, we've been looking to Scripture to see how we can live out our purpose: "...to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." (All apologies to John Piper for not changing the wording here from "and" to "by enjoying", but you know what I mean.) I've had some…

Gotta Get Me One-a Dese!

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 11:21:08 -0500

Challies has this in his A La Carte section today. I went to the website and saw the pictures of this chair. Ann, I know what I want for Christmas... and Father's Day... and my birthday... and my anniversary present. Yeah, just cover it for the whole year. Now, to just find a nice southerly window…

Phew! I'm glad that's settled

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 11:21:08 -0500

I've been increasingly worried, as of late, that I'm a bad parent. My two remaining kids at home, are really pretty good, but from my perspective as a parent and as a pastor, they're not perfect. When they exemplify selfish behavior, I wonder to myself, "What's going on here? They know better than…

Facing Criticism & Dealing with It Well

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 11:21:08 -0500

We'll be starting our Fall Bible Classes next Sunday (9/9) and the adult class will be going through material from Peacemaker Ministries. We've been working toward this for quite some time now: both in the planning and in the needing! Not that we're in a total mess, but we need to learn how to see…

Jealousy & Envy

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 10:41:36 -0500

A few thoughts and meditations on jealousy and envy. I have no particular motive for writing on these two emotions. I do have reasons, but they remain hidden for now.

Jealousy is defined a bit differently, depending upon where you search for its definition. Basically, however, it comes down to…

Sometimes it happens...

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 10:41:36 -0500

...it's why I created this blog:

Tag... I guess I'm it

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 13:14:00 -0500

I think one of the reasons I always break out in a sweat when someone tags me is because when I was little, I was slow. All my friends seemed to be faster than me. So when we'd play real tag, I'd always get tagged and then never seem to be able to get anyone else to be it. Then everyone would get…

Running to the Cross

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 10:41:36 -0500

Just a quick thought here:

I'm reading the book: The Peace Making Pastor by Alfred Poirier, in preparation for our Adult Bible Class that begins in September. In the first chapter, Poirier confesses that he's a heretic at heart. Not really in doctrine, but in practice. In fact, as I read what he…

Some thoughts about church

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 10:18:52 -0500

I just read a good blog post from Libbie.

Seeing the visitor.

My wife, Ann, saw an interesting bulletin insert in one of the homes she cleans. It was reminding the regular church attenders at a local church of two "rules":

The Three-Minute Rule.

In essence, when guests visit a church, they won't…

Some Random Stuff

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 11:00:27 -0500

I did some reading last week (big surprise there) and learned there's a difference between true literature and mere diversion. Well, after the week's I've had pastorally, I could really use the diversions. Perhaps you could too:

Giant Spiders

This guy's just crazy

And some really good "diversions"

Speaking in Tongues

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 11:19:47 -0500

Now, if anyone doing a Google search has come upon this blog entry and thought they were going to be able to get into a rip-roaring good argument, just hold your Calvin Arminian jeans on a second.

I am only wishing that I could speak in the language of angels?

No, what I want is to be able to speak…

Kids... go figure!

Sat, 11 Aug 2007 02:52:43 -0500

I do a children's sermon every Sunday at Cornerstone. It's a great time to connect with the children, the adults get as much, if not more, out of them as they do out of the regular sermon, and the children get a special focused time about halfway through the service.

Here's the text from…