leslie follmar ~ sweet redemption

"Reaching the Next Generation"

Kevin DeYoung posted a great article today on reaching the next generation. I encourage you to read it. To some it might be something you've never thought of, to others, a reminder; plus, it's not that long :-)

Here's a snipit: "The evangelical church needs to stop preaching the false gospel of cultural identification.  Don’t spend all your time trying to figure out how to be just like the next generation.  Be yourself.  Tell them about Jesus...Talk to people.  Notice visitors.  Invite new people over for lunch.  Strike up a friendly conversation at the greasy pizza joint."

Colby Jack Cheese

It is no exaggeration that I love cheese, especially Colby Jack cheese, ESPECIALLY Colby Jack cheese in the shape of Texas! What could get better than that?! Ok, maybe you're thinking, "a lot of things, world peace, the end of poverty, the Gospel spread to all nations..."

Anyway, the point is, I can't get enough Colby Jack cheese, what is up with that? The students that I teach get a snack when they come every afternoon and the snack has cheese, among other things. Sometimes the cheese is nasty mozzarella string cheese, and sometimes (like today) it's Colby Jack!!!

Is it just me, or does anyone else love Colby Jack cheese and could eat about a thousand little cheese cubes at the next buffet you go to that has them?

the blog is back!!

First of all, I have to apologize to all of my faithful readers for not posting for FOUR months! Ever since I decided I was going to move to Kansas City everything has been crazy! 

Here's an update for all of y'all (and it will be bulleted for my engineering friends):

• I moved to Kansas City, MO from Houston, TX (in case you thought I was waiting to move)
• I have a job at a non-profit, college-prep organization for underprivileged, inner-city kids, that provides full scholarships to students who complete our 7th-12th grade program. It's an amazing opportunity, if you think about it. Currently, I'm presenting to 6th graders who will apply to our program in the Spring, among many other things. During the presentations, I can't help but think that these students are facing what could possibly be the most important two and a half months in their life, as they work during the second quarter towards qualifying grades for the program. Crazy. 
• I am helping plant a church, Midtown Community Church (www.midtownchurchKC.com). We plan to launch on Easter 2010, and have many things to do before that day comes. If you really want to know how things are going, they are going well, but we are in need of funds. Our church isn't part of another church that wanted to plant in midtown Kansas City and provide salaries for our pastors or a budget; God laid on the pastors hearts to plant a church here, in a neighborhood that desperately needs the Gospel. So, please pray for God to prepare hearts, for us to speak the Gospel in a language that is understood by these people, and for financial partners so our pastors can pastor and not worry about working 30-35 hours a week at another job. The picture above is of our church (building on the left) and The Filling Station (a coffee shop) across the street. We have the bottom floor of the red-brick building. There are offices above and the "City Builders" sign has been removed.  
• My CD, "Sweet Redemption" is out! In case you haven't given it a listen, you can go to iTunes or lesliefollmar.com. All proceeds from the CD will go to Midtown Community Church.
• It is cold! I have worn a coat a sweater many times in the past two weeks, something that I did maybe once all year living in Houston.  But it is amazing having an actual Fall season and see red leaves on trees!!

Thank you for reading my blog. I promise to be more faithful to update it! 

big news

I got back from Kansas City a few days ago where I spent 11 days with friends and leading worship for a mission team that came in from Tulsa. It was an amazing time, probably the best time I've had in a while. From the moment I got there, I didn't want to leave, and I soon realized that I wanted to move there!
Let me back up a little bit. For about the past six months, I've been thinking about moving to another city, and for the most part I thought I was going to move to Louisville to go to Southern Seminary. After seeking counsel on what I was thinking and praying about it, I wasn't completely sold to the idea of moving to Louisville. So, I decided, reluctantly, to stay and teach another year. But as the school year came to a close, I continually thought that I didn't want to teach another year. I thought I just needed to pray for contentment. Even the last day of school I told a friend, "don't be surprised if I just pack up and move somewhere this summer." But I had no idea where I would move.
Three days later I arrived in KC, MO and knew it was where I wanted to be and that God had been stirring in my heart all of these things to prepare me to go there. The main reason I'm moving to Kansas City is to join the core team of a church plant in the midtown KC area. I see my move the same as moving overseas to do missions, but I'm just moving 12 hours away. I'll be living, working and worshiping in midtown, along with the rest of the core team. Please pray for me as I prepare to transition to Kansas City.

Sunday's Order of Worship (5/31)

I'm going to try to be better about posting our Order of Worship from Baptist Church of the Redeemer

Holy, Holy, Holy
    Call to Worship Psalm 93:1
Show Your Power
    Pre-Confession Scripture Isaiah 6:5
    Silent Confession
    Post-Confession Scripture 2 Corinthians 5:21
    Old Testament Reading Psalm 37:1-11
You Alone Can Satisfy (King/Parker/Foote)
Glorious and Mighty (SGM)
    New Testament Reading John 7:25-39
In Christ Alone
    Sermon: Acts 13:13-41
    Communion
He is Jesus

artwork is done!

... or maybe I should make you wait some more :-)

songs from my CD "Sweet Redemption"

It's not the whole CD, which will be 10 songs, but I wanted to give everyone a little taste of what's going to be on there. Enjoy!!




Thanks to Joseph Doty for the awesome web help to get this player on my blog!

Piper to Obama: "No Mr. President" (you have to watch this)

secular dating advice

My question, which I've had for awhile, is "should Christians take any secular dating advice?"
I watched this from the TODAY show, and think that there are some good take-aways. However, I don't think Christians should take advice like "it's the 21st century, the girl can call the guy and ask him out." I don't think this is prudent or, frankly, attractive.
What do you think?

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

remember the donkeys

I read 1 Samuel 9 yesterday and was struck by how God used missing donkeys to bring Saul and Samuel together, so that Samuel could know who God had appointed to be king. Saul's recorded response to the missing donkeys isn't one of frustration. He didn't say, "God has cursed us" or "has the hand of God turned against us?" This is my typical heart-response to things that don't go my way.
I was reminded, again, of how God is working a million things in ways I could never understand. I'm trying to remember the lost donkeys as events unfold differently than I expect.

God's providence & an iPod

When I get bored with whatever playlist I'm currently listening to, I typically put my iPod on shuffle of all my songs. I've also decided to have a rule that when a semon comes up on shuffle play, I'll listen to it. Sometimes, I skip it, mostly because rebellion rises up in my heart and I don't want to listen to God's truth.  I know that I have the freedom to listen to music and am not bound my rules, but there's a difference between preference and hardness, I think we all know this difference.
Anyway, yesterday a message from Desiring God's 2004's conference "Sex and the Supremacy of Christ" started playing in my car. Low and behold, it was the message to single women, "We're Not on Hold". I seriously wanted to click "next." I just didn't want to hear any message about singleness, since I try not to focus on it. But I let it play on, and I discovered it was truly God's providence & sovereignty in having this message play.

I was challenged on several points:

• It's important to develop relationships with women in my church, even if there aren't any in my "peer group"
• If I spend all my time looking & trying to find a husband, how will account to God for my time? "Well God, I didn't serve anyone or use my time to disciple others younger than me because I was concerned about finding a husband and meeting my needs"
• I'm not single because I'm too old or too young, or not skinny enough or too skinny or not pretty enough or I'm too loud or too quiet or because there are hardly any single men at my church, I'm single because that's God's provision for me today
• My greatest need is to escape the wrath of God and Christ has already done that for me through the cross and resurrection & Him bringing me a husband is a much, much lesser need (that's Gospel-perspective!)

Mainly, I wasn't encouraged by this message because it was about singleness and ways to make singles feel better. I was so encouraged by this message because it was Biblical and Gospel-centric!

message by Carolyn McCulley

BP MS 150

Day 1 of the BP MS 150 got cancelled due to rain, lots and lots of  rain. And I was very sad about this, but day 2 went on without skipping a beat! I had a great time riding alongside 11,000 other cyclists, even though there was a lot of headwind, pain, and a few tears shed (yes, I cry), but it was all worth it when I crossed that finish line (and what a finish line)!! Plus, it was so cool knowing that I was taking part, even if it was a small part, in research for a cure of MS.
I'm now looking forward to purchasing my own bike, since I borrowed the one I rode, and riding more! I need to get my knee looked at, though, I just don't think it's hurting because of the bike's fit, I think it's all the years of basketball. If you've ever thought about doing something like this, don't hesitate any longer!

Here's a sample of some of the many news stories on this year's BP MS 150:

 

Cyclists ride into Austin (Click2Houston, 4/20)

BP MS 150 finishes in Austin (KVUE-TV, 4/19)

Bubbles and more for the BP MS 150 (News 8 Austin, 4/19)

Thousands cycle for MS cure (KXAN-TV, 4/19)

Six Biblical Guidelines for Loving Each Other Amid Differences

Such good counsel from John Piper:

1. Let’s avoid gossiping.
2. Let’s identify evidences of grace in each other and speak them to each other and about each other.
3. Let’s speak criticism directly to each other if we feel the need to speak to others about it.
4. Let’s look for, and assume, the best motive in the other’s viewpoint, especially when we disagree.
5. Think often of the magnificent things we hold in common.
6. Let’s be more amazed that we are forgiven than that we are right. And in that way, let’s shape our relationships by the gospel.

click here to read entire post:
Between Two Worlds: Six Biblical Guidelines for Loving Each Other Amid Differences

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BP MS 150!!!!!

Well, this weekend has finally arrived, the weekend where I ride a bicycle from Houston to Austin, a total of 180 miles! And I'm counting down the hours until the BP MS 150. I probably haven't trained as much as I should've...oh well. I'm pretty excited about this since I've never done anything like this before. I'm excited about being part of this huge thing with all these different people. I have to keep reminding myself that this is not a race, it's for charity and any pain I might go through is small in comparison to those who live with the effects of MS everyday.
Please say a prayer for me this weekend most of all for opportunities to share the Gospel. I struggle at times with events like these since the direct purpose is Gospel- or Christ-related, but I know Christ can be exalted through this, please pray that happens. Secondly, please pray that I make it to Austin and that my time on the bike isn't wasted by me thinking about worthless things.
I'll be riding from Katy (just west of Houston) to La Grange, TX Saturday, then from La Grange to downtown Austin on Sunday. I'll be posting my progess on twitter & facebook (follow me on twitter!)

I have reached my funrasing goal, but you are more than welcome to donate! You can follow this link to my participation site, your donation is VERY much appreciated! 

Last.fm Listens

Do you ever listen to Last.fm or Pandora and think, "yes! great mix of songs!"??
Well, I did this morning! This is what Last.fm sent my way listening to the Kari Jobe station:

Kari Jobe "Beautiful"
Israel Houghton "You Are Good"
Hillsong United "Saviour King"
Shane & Shane "The Answer" (acoustic)
Phil Wickham "Jesus Lord of Heaven"
Paul Baloche "Your Name"