News from the Vineyard
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Larry Bridgesmith
Larry Bridgesmith is a member of the law firm Waller, Lansden, Dortch, & Davis, PLLC. He is also a shepherd with the Family of God at Woodmont Hills and chairman of the Zoe Group, Inc. He is married to Linda (his true helpmeet and lifesaver), the father of Lara (the mother of Iris) and Lance (the father of Tess), with whom he practices law and seeks the wonder of God's adventure.
Movie (P)Review: Lord, Save Us From Your Followers
Larry Bridgesmith
Walking through cities and towns across America, Merchant wore a silly suit plastered with bumper stickers and icons, slogans of faith and anti-faith. He simply asked people to choose their favorite slogan or icon while the camera rolled. Some like the fish, some liked the Darwin inside the fish. Some liked the fish eating the Darwin in a fish. Most couldn't figure what Merchant wanted, was selling or stood for. But a significant amount of conversation was stimulated. The dialogue that has been captured is riveting, convicting and shameful. The shame is that as Christians it is frightening to hear what unbelievers, former believers and yet to be believers think of Christians. Not Jesus, but Christians. Jesus comes off wonderfully well in the movie. His followers don't.
Putting the 'Meaning' in Meaningful Worship
Larry Bridgesmith
What led Matt to worship was an attitude of heart and spirit that was open, honest and anticipatory. Matt was blessed when God chose to respond to the desires of his heart for connection with the eternal. Whether God did so or not, Matt was poised for worship and he encountered God for the first in a long time. The worship experience is not a place, it is not a style, it is not an expectation to be satisfied. Worship is an encounter with God that leaves us changed and our posture in contrast with the eternal clarified. Worship places our condition in perspective as God proclaims his sovereignty. We'd better know who we are because we see who he is.
The Pain of It All
Larry Bridgesmith
How many worshippers had shared similar concerns with me? Born of a different faith and fellowship, how many times have I heard parallel pleas about relevancy, revitalization, and renewal? Most distressingly, how many times have I witnessed "young priests" simply let go of the thread that tied them to the Church of Christ? Thankfully, some landed in sister congregations more open to the renewing work of the Spirit in our age. Others felt forced to fellowship with denominational alternatives seemingly more suited to their search for spiritual awakening. Tragically, some "dropped out" altogether and no longer claim Christ as King. What responsibility do I have for the choices they made?
A Letter From Our Publisher
Larry Bridgesmith
In our desperation we are most likely to see God. Why then do we resist the honesty and vulnerability it takes to embrace our desperate moments? This issue of New Wineskins seeks to explore the desperation which leads us to God, rather than hopelessness.
“Sir, We Would Like to See Jesus”
Larry Bridgesmith
After twenty-five years of witness interviews, depositions and trial testimony, it remains amazing that witnesses to the same event can perceive it in vastly different fashion. "He said" becomes "she said." The "car was red." No, "it was green." And somehow, the truth is derived from conflicting accounts.
How Long?
Larry Bridgesmith
The following two-step monologue was used to illustrate how similar the worldviews of our age were to the age of Christ when believers had waited long for the appearance of the Messiah and the culture seemed in opposition to kingdom people imbued with a sense of pervading hopelessness.
Who Will Tell the Story?
Larry Bridgesmith
Telling God's Story through Drama ... The couple sat with family and close friends before the eldership of their church seeking prayer for their son caught in addictive behavior. As the account of their son's addiction, apprehension and proposed therapy unfolded, the mother boldly proclaimed, "For God to get the glory, we must share the story."
Embracing Conflict: Path to Justice
Larry Bridgesmith
The young lawyer was making his first appearance in court on a motion that really mattered. His heart beat quickly, his palms were wet and his tongue felt thick. He could not let his client down. Too much depended on him...
Consider It All
Larry Bridgesmith
An increased awareness of the urgency and cost of discipleship may be coming into view. Whether through the lens of 9/11 or criticism leveled at those who take a stand for Christ in the face of tradition, political correctness or mere comfort, Christians are beginning to understand that passive faith is no faith at all...
Cult of Wealth
Larry Bridgesmith
Larry Bridgesmith tells a true story about the cult of wealth
04/08/2008
Movie (P)Review: Lord, Save Us From Your Followers
Larry Bridgesmith
Walking through cities and towns across America, Merchant wore a silly suit plastered with bumper stickers and icons, slogans of faith and anti-faith. He simply asked people to choose their favorite slogan or icon while the camera rolled. Some like the fish, some liked the Darwin inside the fish. Some liked the fish eating the Darwin in a fish. Most couldn't figure what Merchant wanted, was selling or stood for. But a significant amount of conversation was stimulated. The dialogue that has been captured is riveting, convicting and shameful. The shame is that as Christians it is frightening to hear what unbelievers, former believers and yet to be believers think of Christians. Not Jesus, but Christians. Jesus comes off wonderfully well in the movie. His followers don't.
Putting the 'Meaning' in Meaningful Worship
Larry Bridgesmith
What led Matt to worship was an attitude of heart and spirit that was open, honest and anticipatory. Matt was blessed when God chose to respond to the desires of his heart for connection with the eternal. Whether God did so or not, Matt was poised for worship and he encountered God for the first in a long time. The worship experience is not a place, it is not a style, it is not an expectation to be satisfied. Worship is an encounter with God that leaves us changed and our posture in contrast with the eternal clarified. Worship places our condition in perspective as God proclaims his sovereignty. We'd better know who we are because we see who he is.
The Pain of It All
Larry Bridgesmith
How many worshippers had shared similar concerns with me? Born of a different faith and fellowship, how many times have I heard parallel pleas about relevancy, revitalization, and renewal? Most distressingly, how many times have I witnessed "young priests" simply let go of the thread that tied them to the Church of Christ? Thankfully, some landed in sister congregations more open to the renewing work of the Spirit in our age. Others felt forced to fellowship with denominational alternatives seemingly more suited to their search for spiritual awakening. Tragically, some "dropped out" altogether and no longer claim Christ as King. What responsibility do I have for the choices they made?
A Letter From Our Publisher
Larry Bridgesmith
In our desperation we are most likely to see God. Why then do we resist the honesty and vulnerability it takes to embrace our desperate moments? This issue of New Wineskins seeks to explore the desperation which leads us to God, rather than hopelessness.
“Sir, We Would Like to See Jesus”
Larry Bridgesmith
After twenty-five years of witness interviews, depositions and trial testimony, it remains amazing that witnesses to the same event can perceive it in vastly different fashion. "He said" becomes "she said." The "car was red." No, "it was green." And somehow, the truth is derived from conflicting accounts.
How Long?
Larry Bridgesmith
The following two-step monologue was used to illustrate how similar the worldviews of our age were to the age of Christ when believers had waited long for the appearance of the Messiah and the culture seemed in opposition to kingdom people imbued with a sense of pervading hopelessness.
Who Will Tell the Story?
Larry Bridgesmith
Telling God's Story through Drama ... The couple sat with family and close friends before the eldership of their church seeking prayer for their son caught in addictive behavior. As the account of their son's addiction, apprehension and proposed therapy unfolded, the mother boldly proclaimed, "For God to get the glory, we must share the story."
Embracing Conflict: Path to Justice
Larry Bridgesmith
The young lawyer was making his first appearance in court on a motion that really mattered. His heart beat quickly, his palms were wet and his tongue felt thick. He could not let his client down. Too much depended on him...
Consider It All
Larry Bridgesmith
An increased awareness of the urgency and cost of discipleship may be coming into view. Whether through the lens of 9/11 or criticism leveled at those who take a stand for Christ in the face of tradition, political correctness or mere comfort, Christians are beginning to understand that passive faith is no faith at all...
Cult of Wealth
Larry Bridgesmith
Larry Bridgesmith tells a true story about the cult of wealth
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