Book Giveaway: The Hole in Our Gospel

Really? There is not a hole in our gospel. I mean look around in any city throughout the US and you will see churches, non-profits, rescue missions, and social services provided by the state helping and serving the poor and downcast. Surely there is not a hole in my gospel. Richard Stearns has written a great book that exposes the hole not only in my gospel, but most US churches.

We live in extreme wealth, comfort, and contentment, which has led us to our own idolatry of money. When there is an idol there is also a firm grip on the idol. In the book Richard tells about his personal resistance in his life to leave the corporate world as CEO and take a job with World Vision. He writes with humility, honesty, and transparency about his struggle to leave the "finer" things of his extravagant life and serve alongside an organization that reaches out to the downtrodden of the world.

My journey of the poor and outcast started when I was in the 3rd grade. My parents took me to Impact Church to be exposed to the orphans, widows, and those that society has cast out as "the least of these." I remember my first encounter walking under a bridge in downtown Houston and experiencing tent cities and shelters that mark all of our urban centers across the world. Years later I spent a summer at Impact working with the children in the inner city and reaching out to their families through various ministries. Not sure that my parents really grasped the full extension of the experiences they gave me as we visited different churches who truly reached out and ministered to the whole person. Today my life is not the same because of my life experiences and now "The Hole in Our Gospel" is a part of that overarching story of my life.

You cannot read this book and not be moved closer to Christ and those stricken by AIDS, hunger, malnutrition, disease and lack of educational opportunities.

Read Isaiah 58 and Matthew 25; if that does not move you and shake you then please give this book a chance. There actually my be a chance that your heart is hard like Eph 4 talks about. If that is the case then cry out to God to break your heart from your ego, pride, and idol of self.

Now for the book giveaway:

You have a really good chance to win this book; my analytic count is not high and I do not have many people subscribed via my RSS. Therefore, there may only be 3 comments and that would leave you with a 1 in 3 chance of winning.

Four ways to enter:

1. Tweet about the book giveaway and be sure to use @lantzhoward in the tweet so I can keep up with you.
2. Leave a comment below.
3. Post on Facebook about the book giveaway.
4. Write on your blog your first experience with the poor and downtrodden and link to this giveaway in your blog post.

You can do one or all four. Be sure to leave a comment for each one that you participate in. Next Wednesday I will use a number generator and try to figure out who won. Please keep in mind this is my first giveaway and there my be a few glitches, but I will contact the winner and send the book to you via the mail after you win.

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Book provided by Book Sneeze and Thomas Nelson.

Everyone Communicates

Today you communicated in several hundred different ways. Not only verbal and nonverbal, but you communicated today via a mass array of social networking sites, email, texting, and possibly at least one phone conversation.

The reality is that we have many options when it comes to communicating with others, but we often lack the emotional connection of our communication.

Many times we confuse marital communication with connectedness. In other words it is easy to confuse connectedness with communication. Just because you are communicating does not mean you are connecting.

I can Tweet, text, email, or even post something on my Facebook wall, but the reality is few connect or interact and build upon that medium of communication.

The present reality in business, churches, marriages, and families, is that those who live a good story or make the world a better place will make connections, not just communication.

Go and make connections via your communication.

How would you define communication versus connection?


(Picture: fodor)

Must Watch Monologue...No Really

May your Kingdom be established in our presence!





May your Kingdom be established in our presence!

Pushing One Another

On Saturday I went out with Scott Archibald from Multi Sport Ministry and we rode from Summerlin out to Blue Diamond and enjoyed the blue majestic skies, the snow covered mountain tops, all under the fellowship of brotherhood and I would like to say competition, but there was a lack of competition.

However, I did receive support and encouragement realizing my cycling abilities need to get stronger. Scott is a very strong rider and triathlete and will be competing in some major events in 2010. On Saturday let's just say I recieved a great deal of humility, not directly, but indirectly. Thanks Scott for pushing me. This is a week of getting stronger on the bike...well...as soon as I recover from some major back pain. (That's another story.)

Who is pushing you?

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On a side note read Jessica's hilarious post about Saturday night.

Book Review: The Feast by Josh Graves

Though I have never met Josh Graves I feel as though we could be great friends. Endurance athlete, avid basketball player, and lover of Christ, Josh hits a home run with his first book published by the guys and gals over at Leafwood.

Josh writes with great humility, boldness, and clarity. His writing style is fresh and conversational, as if I just finished a cup of coffee with him.

Many today are struggling to find an authentic path of being a follower of Jesus Christ. There seems to be a polarization that is happening with those who desire to walk with God. On one end people are searching for a simple way to follow Christ that is not bound by religiosity, but a way of living one's life. Then on the other end people work tirelessly at justifying themselves by rules or knowledge that keeps the "ship at bay."

Josh tries to paint a picture of a place in the middle. He does not abandon scripture, instead he displays a huge desire to meet God in His truth. However, he does not stop with only the word of God he goes on to share stories of what it may look like to practice Matthew 25 in today's context. If you desire to have a fresh voice of encouragement in your walk I am sure you will not be disappointed.

The Feast is intended to help the reader find a way to be an authentic Christ follower today and leave the polarization behind. I hope you will find refreshment in the author's word as he draws you closer to Christ and leaves you with a desire to "feast" upon His word and be relational with Him and others.

Sidenote: There is a brief overview of each chapter and study guide found at the end of the book, which makes this book a valuable tool for class settings or small groups.



Thanks to Leafwood for the opportunity to review this book.

Love Letter from Nehemiah

I have been receiving email devotions from Larry Crabb's book 66 Love Letters: A Conversation with God. They all have been profound, but wanted to pass on the encouragement today. Many of us are burdened, discouraged, and seem to have lost our direction. This is re-written from the book of Nehemiah and offers a fresh voice about continuing to do the good works.


"God says, whatever anyone does out of a sincere desire to know Me and draw others to me is a great work. And as you engage in that work, sometimes you will be energized as you catch a glimpse of My plan unfolding. More often you won't. Either way you are doing a great work.

Every father who repairs a leaky faucet and then prays with his kids before dinner is doing a great work. Every mother who prepares that dinner and joins in that prayer is doing a great work. Every single person who works hard to pay the rent and reads the Bible before bedtime is doing a great work.

I see it all. And I am pleased. Their reward is coming.

Whatever is done to know Me and make Me known, to advance My purposes, is a great work. And I will use every great work done by My people, no matter how small it seems, to further My great plan.

When you see the fullness of that plan and its end result, you will be plunged forever in a sea of joy."



(Photo: lusi)

The Art of Forming Calluses

Last Monday night was a crash course into the basic of reading music. I have never been trained in any music nor do I understand how to read music. I am not sure if I am musically inclined or not. If I hear a song a few times and focus in on learning and hearing the notes, in general terms I "know" the song. Well, at least I know how to sing the song or possibly even lead the song in a worship context.

In my adventure to learn how to play the guitar one of the annoying things is developing calluses on my left hand specifically my fingers. If you have ever attempted to play the guitar or consider yourself a guitar player than you know what I am talking about. Attempting to play the right chords one must press down on the strings at the right fret. Not enough pressure and the note does not resonate. Every guitarist refers to the fact that you must develop calluses in order to move to the next level.

Calluses are a must if i desire to take my guitar abilities to the next level, but it takes time and dedication to work through the pain. Once the calluses are formed I will be able to play without discomfort.

I typically do not desire calluses in my life. I typically wear gloves if I do manual labor to prevent blisters or calluses from forming. I have minor calluses from working out either with Crossfit or P90X, but calluses play a major role in very few areas of my life.

However, I must be aware of any calluses that may be forming over my heart or mind. Just as in playing the guitar, it is slow process and sometimes you may not even notice the calluses being formed in your life.

Ephesians 4 refers to this process as "hardening of the heart" and "losing all sensitivity."

The point of a callus is not to have sensitivity.


Do you have any calluses that need to be softened?


May our eyes and heart be opened to the calluses that need to be removed.


(Picture: sofamonkez)

A New Adventure

A new adventure always has inherent risk, failure, joy, and excitement.

In 2001 I signed up for a guitar class at LCU and for some reason dropped the class a few days prior to starting. I have regretted dropping that class on a few occasions over the last 9 years.

A few weeks ago I signed up for a 5 week class on Monday night at UNLV to try this whole guitar adventure again. Well, tonight is the first night.

I look forward to new adventures, but fear the risk of diving in. However, this is not a short term goal, but as I wrote in my 2010 story that this is a life long adventure to learn the guitar.

What fears do you have in starting a new adventure?



(Picture: uyo14)

Writing Ideas...

I just counted 10 blogging ideas that I have been wanting to write about over the last week or two, but I have not had the clarity or focus to write lately.

When I an idea or thought comes I will either write it down on a post it note at the office or grab my Moleskin and write ideas down.

Either way I would appreciate your patience as I try to find a rhythm.

What to give your wife for Valentines?

Give your wife a gift of purity.

Confess to your wife that she is the desire of your heart.

Humble yourself before her and ask for her forgiveness.

Commit to her that you will not lust after any other woman.

Don't mask over impurity with roses, chocolates, and jewelry.

The truth will eventually reveal itself. Come out into the light this Valentines Day and step up to the role of being a warrior for your wife and family.

If you are struggling with purity and desire to give your wife a pure heart seek out a professional counselor, books, and a group of men who are radically committed to purity.

You may want to check out these free ebooks.

Other good resources to check out:

"The Game Plan" by Joe Dallas

"Sex is Not the Problem" by Joshua Harris

"Hope After Betrayal" by Meg Wilson

"Out of the Shadows" by Patrick Carnes

"Healing the Wounds of Sexual Addiction" by Mark Laaser



(Picture: sxc jaylopez)