Christianity

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  • The Three Things That Churches Must Never, Ever Mess With

    Why God?
    admin
    15 Aug 2010 | 10:16 pm

  • New Study Credits Prayer For Making Marriages Stronger

    The Life. Spiritual Refreshment for Christians & the Christian Curious
    12 Aug 2010 | 8:25 am
         When you reach the end of the road, you look around and start to think. Where have you been, how far did you go and where will you go next?      That's how I feel now with this final blog posting as Zetify's summer intern.       Over the summer I have...

  • How Many People Attended the 'Restoring Honor' Rally?

    Tall Skinny Kiwi
    Andrew
    31 Aug 2010 | 9:44 pm
    Big news! Our family is returning to USA for a coast to coast tour, starting late September in New York and going down, then westward through Texas, up to Oregon and down the West Coast.Why now? Well, it is kinda sudden, isn't it?  One of the biggest reasons is because we were denied a visa extension in UK and our time on the European mainland is limited to 3 months - which is over in a few weeks. We were hoping to drive over to India but the time is not right, esp. with the roads being washed out in Pakistan. So we will go back to USA for a bit.Also, we need to reestablish our kid's…

  • The question we all ask.

    Stuff Christians Like - Jon Acuff
    Jon
    1 Sep 2010 | 6:06 am
    My wife is on her third iPhone 4 in six days. The first one had a hardware and software failure. The second one sounded like an old timey cotton gin. It was so loud she held it up to our landline at home when she was on the phone with Apple support and they urged her to bring it in. Immediately. The third one? We’ll see. The worst part is that she holds me responsible. Because I’ve had one for a year and like Apple, she assumes that I might have hand built these defective iPhones. She’ll call me in the middle of the day and say, “Guess where I am, the Apple store.” Then she’ll get…

  • Work and the Two Great Love Commandments

    Acton Institute - Acton promotes sound economic thinking and an awareness of the moral underpinnings necessary for a free society.
    1 Sep 2010 | 7:07 am
    GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Sept. 2, 2010) – Richard M. DeVos will receive Acton Institute’s Faith and Freedom Award in October for his remarkable accomplishments in business, American cultural life and philanthropy. read more
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    Holy Experience

  • Your Free Ticket to God's Gallery (& Free Nature Calendar)

    Ann Voskamp @Holy Experience
    2 Sep 2010 | 6:05 am
    Out the window,out the door,out the lane,out in the woods,all free for the eyes,is the actual creative masterpieceof God. And your free ticket to God's astonishing gallery begins with opening the backdoorand taking the first stepout. That they may see and recognize,And consider and gain insight as well,That the hand of the LORD has done this,And the Holy One of Israel has created it.~Is. 41:20 (Click to enlarge for your own calendar for exploring God's gallery... The calendar's from the 1950s and from: Natural Science Through the Seasons: 100 Teaching UnitsRelated: Our past nature tables and…

  • how you might really be pregnant and not know it yet

    Ann Voskamp @Holy Experience
    1 Sep 2010 | 8:17 am
    I’m checking out sizes of socks in an aisle at Walmart when the feeling hits, a wave, and I’m washed away. I have felt this before. It’s only a fleeting moment, but I lay my hand low, where a child begins to grow on the inner walls of a woman and I feel it. I feel pregnant.I feel full of hope, heavy with child, swollen with love. The child's name is Xiomara Michelle. It’s her, a child in a Compassion project, that I am carrying through the aisles on a hot Tuesday afternoon in August in the children’s department, doing what expectant women do — preparing their hearts for a child…

  • A Brief Guide to Making Today a Great Day

    Ann Voskamp @Holy Experience
    31 Aug 2010 | 4:57 am
    Every day's made a great day when we seize whatever the moment brings.When we cling to Grace and just laugh when things get tospy turvsy,when we find someone to share the ride and the adventure and the prayers,when the beauty of our journey is our destination. These are the momentsmade into daysthat ignite with His Glory....the whole earth is full of his glory."~Isaiah 6:2-4 Photos: Levi and Joshua happily seizing the momentShare your thoughts? If you would like Holy Experience posts quietly tucked into your reader or emailed to your inbox for free...

  • when you ache with an ordinary life

    Ann Voskamp @Holy Experience
    30 Aug 2010 | 12:19 am
    No, I hadn't ever heard that song before, never in church and we haven't had a radio in more than a decade, but I sang it anyways, the words coming from deep down in that part of you that has no words, only pure feelings. I sang that song with the rest of the congregation, right after the last boy got out of the baptismal tank. He stood there at the front of the church, dripping. My cheeks were still wet from the happiness that had spilled with the words of his testimony. He'd given that testimony with such nervousness, his hands shaking, but I had felt his meaning, my chin trembling. Felt…

  • why silence is really golden

    Ann Voskamp @Holy Experience
    27 Aug 2010 | 5:13 am
    Humility -- what Jesus said we must learn from Him and learning takes practice and time and intentionality -- does humility come in silence, in the barely whispered, "I don't know," in the saying little and simply listening?Is humility the only true beauty? I grieve the words I have spoken, the answers I have written, the quiet I have marred.For what words carry any weight into eternity except the ones quietly lived? The ones spoken with hands and the silent scars of sacrifice. There is a time to be silent and a time to speak and we must pray to know the order of things; I can lose track of…
 
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    Stuff Christians Like - Jon Acuff

  • Fancy pulpits.

    Jon
    2 Sep 2010 | 6:49 am
    My wife is on her third iPhone 4 in six days. The first one had a hardware and software failure. The second one sounded like an old timey cotton gin. It was so loud she held it up to our landline at home when she was on the phone with Apple support and they urged her to bring it in. Immediately. The third one? We’ll see. The worst part is that she holds me responsible. Because I’ve had one for a year and like Apple, she assumes that I might have hand built these defective iPhones. She’ll call me in the middle of the day and say, “Guess where I am, the Apple store.” Then she’ll get…

  • The question we all ask.

    Jon
    1 Sep 2010 | 6:06 am
    Life is like a hurricane, here in Duckburg. Race cars, lasers, aeroplanes, it’s a duck-blur. Might solve a mystery or rewrite history … If you grew up like I did, you know the next words that to gem of a song. It’s “DuckTales, ooohhh, ooohhh.” That’s the chorus to the show DuckTales. My wife bought volume 1&2 on DVD for the move up to Franklin, Tennessee and my kids have loved them. And why shouldn’t they? That song is the jam. I hope someday that Timbaland and Justin Timberlake will do a remix. Maybe even throw in Ludacris. He makes his own cognac now, how easy would…

  • Writing “open letters.”

    Jon
    31 Aug 2010 | 4:10 am
    “Jonathan Acuff betrays America with Anti-Christian article.” That was the title of a post that was written in response to a CNN article I wrote. In the post the author ripped me apart, questioning my love of democracy, apple pie and freedom. But I think it was a joke. It has to be, it was so over the top and hateful that I have to assume they were just joshing. (I’m bringing the words, “joshing” and “no doy,” back by the way.) My biggest clue that it was a joke was that they didn’t use the preferred way to express Christian angst … the open letter. An editorial device in…

  • Permission to Speak Freely – Free Excerpt

    Jon
    30 Aug 2010 | 8:59 pm
    I was a big fan of Anne Jackson’s first book, Mad Church Disease. It was a gift to anyone who works in the ministry. That’s why I’m excited about her second book, Permission to Speak Freely – Essays and Art on Fear, Confession and Grace which releases today. Where her first book was for pastors, this book is for everyone. Anne was kind enough to share one of the essays from the book. Anne decided to share seven essays on seven different blogs, this being the second. To read the rest of the essays, check out the links at the end. Anne is also giving away a copy of…

  • Sex.

    Jon
    30 Aug 2010 | 3:26 am
    The other day, pop princess Katy Perry said something interesting: “I think when you put sex and spirituality in the same bottle and shake it up, bad things happen.” I disagree. Although that specific quote was about Lady Gaga, I think it’s indicative of something much bigger and much worse. Put simply, our culture has divorced God from sex. I’ve long said that popular culture often acts as if God might have invented humanity and thus sex, but he was completely caught off guard that sex was an enjoyable activity. He was convinced it was a very clinical activity designed for baby…
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    Acton Institute - Acton promotes sound economic thinking and an awareness of the moral underpinnings necessary for a free society.

  • Acton Institute Honors Richard M. DeVos with Faith and Freedom Award

    2 Sep 2010 | 5:28 am
    GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Sept. 2, 2010) – Richard M. DeVos will receive Acton Institute’s Faith and Freedom Award in October for his remarkable accomplishments in business, American cultural life and philanthropy. read more

  • Work and the Two Great Love Commandments

    1 Sep 2010 | 7:07 am
    by Jordan Ballor Amid the threat of a “double-dip” recession, and the ongoing plight of joblessness across America, this Labor Day is bittersweet for many. For those who have the gift of employment, the right to work can seem more like a privilege. And for those looking for work, the hope of being hired soon can sometimes seem more like a fantasy. But it is precisely in this kind of challenging economic environment that we can most clearly see the blessing that work is both to ourselves and to one another. You also might like... Work: The Meaning of Your Life—A Christian…

  • Humility in a Time of Recession

    1 Sep 2010 | 7:06 am
    by Samuel Gregg Since 2008, there has been much discussion about the contribution of unethical behavior to our present economic circumstances. Whether it was borrowers’ lying on mortgage-applications or Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s politically-driven lending policies, there seems to be some consciousness that non-economic factors played a role in facilitating what we already call the Great Recession. You also might like... Economic Thinking for the Theologically Minded Business and Society read more

  • Christians and Health Care

    31 Aug 2010 | 10:35 am
    read more

  • Teachers Unions and Civil Rights Groups Block School Choice for Black Students

    25 Aug 2010 | 7:40 am
    by Anthony B. Bradley Teachers unions, like the National Education Association (NEA), and many civil-rights organizations inadvertently sabotage the potential of black males by perpetuating failed educational visions. Black males will never achieve academic success until black parents are financially empowered to opt out of failed public school systems. Educational Choice read more
 
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    Menlo Park Presbyterian Church Sermon-Cast

  • The Biggest Loser: Hope for the Outcast

    22 Aug 2010 | 6:56 pm
    Jim Candy looks at the story of Zacchaeus and the costly grace that Jesus extended to him.Features Luke 19 story of Zacchaeus.Check out our weekly audio Sermon-Cast HERE.You can follow us on Twitter: @MPPC_ODC or on Faceboook as well.

  • The Biggest Loser: Hope for Control Freaks

    15 Aug 2010 | 6:37 pm
    This weekend Scott Scruggs continues our series by teaching us from Genesis 16 and the story of Hagar and Ishmael.Features Genesis 16 story of Hagar and Ishmael.Check out our weekly audio Sermon-Cast HERE.You can follow us on Twitter: @MPPC_ODC or on Faceboook as well.

  • The Biggest Loser: Hope for Spiritual Losers

    8 Aug 2010 | 4:33 pm
    This weekend Kevin Kim talks about the story of Adam and Eve. We look at all that they lost through sin and disobedience, and the beauty of God's response and determination to use even that loss to bring redemption.Features Genesis 3 story of Adam and Eve.Check out our weekly audio Sermon-Cast HERE.You can follow us on Twitter: @MPPC_ODC or on Faceboook as well.

  • Parables: Can God Be Trusted?

    3 Aug 2010 | 4:34 pm
    Scott Scruggs launches the first of two weeks looking at some key parables. He'll explore God's faithfulness and learning to trust Him more.Features Luke 11 parable.Check out our weekly audio Sermon-Cast HERE.You can follow us on Twitter: @MPPC_ODC or on Faceboook as well.

  • Parables: What's Your Excuse?

    3 Aug 2010 | 4:30 pm
    This week Scott Scruggs talks about our excuses that keep us from walking with God. Features Luke 14 parable.Check out our weekly audio Sermon-Cast HERE.You can follow us on Twitter: @MPPC_ODC or on Faceboook as well.
 
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    Brian McLaren EMC

  • Holy Land, Peace, Nonviolence ...

    plushy55@yahoo.com
    2 Sep 2010 | 1:01 pm
    Lynne Hybels gets it right ... here. I've seen the film she refers to - it really is worth seeing. Also worth seeing - Bob Roberts and Prince Turqi model Christian-Muslim dialogue: Prince Turqi of Saudi Arabia from Glocalnetblog on Vimeo.

  • Where I'll be this Fall:

    plushy55@yahoo.com
    2 Sep 2010 | 9:50 am
    I've had a quiet summer - good for writing (and recuperating from 2 tick-borne diseases). Next week a full travel schedule ramps up again. Between now and Christmas I'll be ... In North Carolina In Tennessee In Minnesota In Baltimore In Edmonton, AB, Canada In Hong Kong In Cambodia In Boston, MA In Houston, TX In Toronto, Canada In Boston, MA In Philadelphia, PA In Shreveport, LA In VA Beach, VA In Louisville, KY In Dallas, TX In Philadelphia, PA I'm looking forward to meeting many of you in one of these cities. If we meet, be sure to tell me you read my blog. Thanks!

  • Gathering in the big tent ...

    plushy55@yahoo.com
    2 Sep 2010 | 8:11 am
    Philip Clayton gives one of the best overviews of "what's emerging" that I've seen anywhere ... right here.

  • The Cross and the Greco-Roman narrative

    plushy55@yahoo.com
    2 Sep 2010 | 8:05 am
    A reader writes ... Continue reading The Cross and the Greco-Roman narrative...

  • Q & R: A great question about prayer ... and a hint about my next book

    plushy55@yahoo.com
    2 Sep 2010 | 7:01 am
    A reader writes ... Continue reading Q & R: A great question about prayer ... and a hint about my next book...
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    http://heatheragoodman.com/rss.xml

  • The Master's Artist: 21 Ways to Procrastinate Writing Your Story

    hgoodman
    31 Aug 2010 | 9:42 am
    For hardworking, disciplined folks, I've composed a list of my favorite tools of procrastination, all in the name of creativity. For example: 2. Start your exercise program by trying out that new zumba/spinning/yoga class at the gym (dancing on a bicycle with one leg behind your back) 6. Clean out your fridge (what is that substance in the Tupperware container anyway?) 15. Troll YouTube for funny videos Read the list in its entirety.

  • Redeeming Suburbia, Part II

    hgoodman
    30 Aug 2010 | 10:09 am
    When I moved back to the suburbs six years ago, I mourned the loss of the ministry for which I'd been preparing, namely church-planting in Italy. I mean, come on. I was headed for Trieste, Italy and landed in a Dallas suburb. The grieving period was necessary and long. Two things happened before I could fully embrace ministry in the burbs: First, I had to accept that God could and will redeem the suburbs. Romans 8 says that all creation groans for our future glorification. I had to listen to hear I wasn't the only one groaning in my neck of the woods. Second, I had to be joyful in this…

  • Popinjay: Confidence

    hgoodman
    25 Aug 2010 | 8:17 am
    As an artist, confidence is a tricky thing. It means being able to take criticism, knowing when to change your work based on that criticism and when to smile and ignore it. It means knowing when to hold back and polish and when to risk the public eye. It means knowing when to trash a piece and when to hold on to it for dear life. It means pressing on in the midst of rejections. And more rejections. Sometimes it means knowing when to compose silences and rest from your art. Find more photos portraying confidence here. Also, my piano's name is Claire. 

  • Redeeming Suburbia

    hgoodman
    23 Aug 2010 | 9:33 am
    This has been a topic floating in my mind for the past five years. Christians talk often about rebuilding the city or reclaiming a simple country life, but for the most part, we seem to have little good to say about the suburbs or the possibility for the suburbs. We consider them detached places where people commute to their work, their grocery stores, their lives. They come home, pull their cars into their garages without the inconvenience of greeting neighbors, plant themselves in front of the boob tube or perhaps play with their children for a few minutes in the backyard, which is well…

  • Secrets: A Series

    hgoodman
    18 Aug 2010 | 10:45 am
    Or, the end of the world as we know it. Or, why I haven't been blogging as much: explained. At the High Calling Blogs, Claire challenged us to submit photos freeze-framing a particular stage in life. I can't hold my secret any longer.
 
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    CatalystSpace | Catablog

  • Missional Living in Portland

    info@catalystspace.com
    2 Sep 2010 | 7:17 am
    In January of 2008 I had the opportunity to meet with Luis and Kevin Palau during a roadtrip visit to Portland, OR...it was then that I first heard about their "Season of Service" campaign.  Now, two years later Kevin shares about how their collaborative effort with other area leaders is literally changing the landscape of an entire city.  Take a minute and be encouraged by this amazing update from Kevin... Missional Living in PortlandBy Kevin Palau"Two years ago in Portland—one of the least churched cities in the United States—hundreds of churches came together to talk…

  • Candid discussion with Chan, Driscoll & Harris

    info@catalystspace.com
    1 Sep 2010 | 12:59 pm
    Enjoy a surprisingly candid & authentic conversation with Mark Driscoll, Francis Chan & Joshua Harris on ministry & mostly what Francis is doing next & why. 15 minutes.

  • Book Giveaway: Your Secret Name

    info@catalystspace.com
    1 Sep 2010 | 6:48 am
    Today we are giving away the new book from Kary Oberbrunner, Your Secret Name: Discovering Who God Created You to Be. We all have one–a Secret Name that is. The Bible tells us so. Yet few of us know ours. Many of us are stuck, caught up in the 'Name Game.' Using the story of the biblical patriarch Jacob as a backdrop, author Kary Oberbrunner calls us to stop accepting the world’s labels and start wrestling with God to discover our true identity. Jacob spent years living out the meaning of his earthly name: 'deceiver.' Caught up in pretending to be someone he wasn’t, he was…

  • Catalyst Prayer Journal: Elected Officials

    info@catalystspace.com
    31 Aug 2010 | 12:46 pm
    "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." 1 Tim 2:1-2 This week in the Catalyst Prayer Journal we are praying for our government leaders. We pray that God would give them the grace to rule wisely & justly, that they would repent of whatever wrong they have done and that He would draw them to himself - that they would know God, submit to Him and rule accordingly. Here's who to pray for: Your MayorYour GovernorThe…

  • Permission to Speak Freely - Free Excerpt #6

    info@catalystspace.com
    30 Aug 2010 | 8:59 pm
    Our friend Anne Jackson's second book, Permission to Speak Freely - Essays and Art on Fear, Confession and Grace releases today! She's giving us a little taste of the book by sharing seven excerpts on seven different blogs, this is the sixth. To read the rest of the essays, check out the links at the end.Anne is also giving away a copy of her book to two commenters, chosen at random, on Friday. So check out the question at the end and leave a comment to be entered to win!You can pick up a copy of the book here. Essay #6 - Ghosts of Churches Past The confession about the porn and the men and…
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    CatalystSpace | Articles

  • Overcoming the Imposter Inside, By Kary Oberbrunner | Your Secret Name

    info@catalystspace.com
    30 Aug 2010 | 12:16 pm
    How do you tell your congregation you used a knife to carve the F-word into your thigh last night? Not the factoid you'd like to include in your Sunday morning sermon.But your story isn't that much different. Is it?Experts say that 70% of us are imposters, especially those in leadership positions.Many of us exist as out-of-touch anomalies—more aware of the oil levels in the cars we drive (and for guys like me that's pretty clueless) than the soul levels in the lives we live. This discrepancy is why we're addicted to affirmation, why we work the long hours, why we keep massaging that…

  • We Didn't See it Coming, By Dr. Tim Elmore | GrowingLeaders.com

    info@catalystspace.com
    16 Aug 2010 | 1:30 pm
    Something is happing in our culture. There is a subtle but very real shift taking place. If you work with adults, you may not see it because adults often get stuck in steady routines. They won’t reveal the shift. If you work with students you may not see it because you are so close to the change you can become numb to it.Let me explain it this way. For almost twenty years, I lived in San Diego, CA. While there, I learned rapidly about earthquakes. They cause a shift in the earth beneath me. What I didn’t realize was that following most every earthquake, there is an aftershock.

  • Four Characteristics of a Movement VS an Institution, By Dr. Tim Keller | Redeemer NYC

    info@catalystspace.com
    16 Aug 2010 | 12:39 pm
    The word "movement" is often used to describe a kind of vital, dynamic human organization, in order to distinguish it from what are called "institutions." Both of these words can have broader meanings, but for the sake of this discussion let us define them in the following ways. A movement is marked by an attractive, clear, unifying vision for the future together with a strong set of values or beliefs. The content of the vision must be compelling and clear so that others can grasp it readily. It must not be so esoteric or difficult that only a handful of people can articulate it. Instead, it…

  • Young Influencers List - August Edition, By Brad Lomenick | Director of Catalyst

    info@catalystspace.com
    16 Aug 2010 | 12:18 pm
    Here you go, the August edition of the Young Influencers List. You can find past months’ editions here. 1. Darren Whitehead- teaching pastor at Willow Creek Community Church. And Australian…. 2. Josh Cox- elite runner and US record holder in 50 K. Part of Team World Vision raising money through marathon sponsorships. 3. Allison Trowbridge- Communications Director at Not For Sale, fighting human trafficking and slavery. 4. Dave Morin- Co-founder and CEO of Path. Co-inventor of Facebook Platform and Facebook Connect. 5. Stephen Cole- songwriter and worship leader at Northwest OKC…

  • Conversations on Being a Heretic, Q IDEAS | Brian McLaren & Scot McKnight

    info@catalystspace.com
    16 Aug 2010 | 7:52 am
    It’s no secret. Some Christian leaders have been adamant, and others speculative, that Brian McLaren’s views are heretical. In this Q conversation, Scot McKnight will explore what all the outrage is about, asking Brian to clarify his views on matters consequential to theology and the church. View the Q Video
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    CCBlogs

  • My DOs and DON’Ts of children’s sermons

    Adam Copeland
    23 Aug 2010 | 9:31 am
    Adam Copeland's blog The tricky truth about children’s sermons is that it’s easier to come up with bad ones than good ones. Yesterday, a Sunday morning Twitter exchange with a few pastors got me thinking about my children’s sermon approach, and how it differs from many of my colleagues. For example, when I saw this site and the idea of teaching about the bentover woman in Luke 13 with a bent spoon, I laughed out lout and closed my browser tab immediately. Later, when I had time to reflect, I found some redeeming qualities to the suggestion, but the bent spoon as an object lesson still…

  • The next 40 years

    Carol Howard Merritt
    23 Aug 2010 | 9:31 am
    Carol Howard Merritt's blog A commissioner to the General Assembly (our denomination’s national meeting that happens every two years), came back to report on what he did. He was a bit disappointed that he was on the church growth committee. The first day they sat down and talked about how if the church continues to decline at the same rate, then there will be no members left in forty years. The second day, they studied Matthew 25. The third day, they studied Matthew 25. They went on a couple of field trips, and they studied Matthew 25 some more. The people hearing the report were shocked.

  • Ground-zero fear

    Debra Dean Murphy
    23 Aug 2010 | 9:29 am
    Debra Dean Murphy's blog The first time I taught an introductory world religions class, one of the students was a quiet Afghan named Mohammed. When it came time for oral presentations, Mohammed talked about Jesus. As a devout Muslim, he knew a lot about his subject. This was a few years before 9/11 — before ”Islamic extremism” and “jihad” entered the cultural lexicon; before conservative media began regularly exploiting their audiences’ ignorance of orthodox Islam; before suspicion of all things Muslim became the order of the day in America.... READ MORE.   <!--break-->

  • It is my issue

    Steve Pankey
    19 Aug 2010 | 9:31 am
    Steve Pankey's blog I'm not sure why I've missed this list for the last 14 years, but in my newsfeed this morning came the Beloit College Mindset List. It is the compilation of two senior faculty members at Beloit College in Beloit, Wisconsin and it attempts to help professors see the generation gap between them and the incoming freshman class. Some of the notes on the list are funny. Some make me feel old. Some, however are quite helpful for we in the Church as we continue to evaluate where we are in relation to new and powerful generations.... READ MORE.   <!--break-->

  • New to the network

    Steve Thorngate
    17 Aug 2010 | 8:27 am
    There are a number of new bloggers in the network. Drop by and check them out: Nancy Janish, a former veterinarian, blogs about science and religion, among other things. So does Thomas Jay Oord, a Church of the Nazarene theologian. Steven Demmler writes about theology while studying it as a graduate student. Kurt Willems blogs as a Mennonite Brethren pastor and a seminarian. Joshua Pedersen writes about the Bible from the perspective of a literature Ph.D. Married couple Daniel Ott (a theologian) and Teri McDowell Ott (a pastor) blog in conversation with each other. Teacher and consultant…
 
 
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    Prodigal Magazine

  • Was I wrong about dream girls?

    JHalbert
    31 Aug 2010 | 11:53 pm
    A while ago I wrote an article saying that I thought that “dream girls” didn’t exist.  I think about 5 people read it and left some comments, but overall, it was probably just left alone. It was a pretty brutal article, maybe offensive, someone said “cynical and bitter,” but I was really trying to be more funny than I was angry. My lack of writing experience was probably the article’s biggest deterrent to its effectiveness.  That said, sorry if you were the few that read it and were offended and I hurt your sensitive little hearts; I really didn’t…

  • Q&A – What is God’s relationship to time?

    admin
    20 May 2010 | 8:46 am
    Answer: We live in a physical world with its four known space-time dimensions of length, width, height (or depth) and time. However, God dwells in a different dimension—the spirit realm—beyond the perception of our physical senses. It’s not that God isn’t real; it’s a matter of His not being limited by the physical laws and dimensions that govern our world (Isaiah 57:15). Knowing that “God is spirit” (John 4:24), what is His relationship to time?In Psalm 90:4, Moses used a simple yet profound analogy in describing the timelessness of God: “For a thousand years in Your sight…

  • Michael Catt Interview (Creator of Facing The Giants and Fireproof)

    jvaughan
    10 Apr 2010 | 1:35 pm
    Last week, I got an email from a literary agency asking me if I would be interested in interviewing Michael Catt.  Many of you may not know who he is.  He is the Senior Pastor at Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, GA and the creator of movies such as Facing The Giants, Fireproof and the newly announced production Courageous that will be hitting the big screen next year.  God has moved in and through his church to be an encouragement to many, so I sat down with him today to discuss his role as a pastor, an author and a movie producer. Pastor: When people hear the name, Michael Catt, they…

  • Reign O’er a Kingdom in Ruin

    BMacKinnon
    2 Mar 2010 | 7:18 am
    One nugget of Christian rhetoric I have always had the toughest time understanding is “giving everything to God.”  What was so frustrating about this is that “giving everything to God” sounds like the right thing to do, and here I don’t even know the implications of the statement!  My visceral response is to pack up all my belongings and give them to the church.  Or perhaps to quit my job and say I had given it to God.  The Peace Corps seems to fit the bill for that too, I should enlist (or whatever it is they call it). No.  That isn’t all there is to it.  Luckily, Jesus…

  • Killer Resume pt.2

    ssutton
    28 Feb 2010 | 8:18 pm
    OK, folks, last time we got you halfway through your resume, so we need to finish up this week and then move on to the other aspects of the job hunt. Once you’ve gotten your qualifications tweaked, you should list your experience. I prefer the term Career Summary as a header, because it gives the reader the impression you’ve been on course all along, even if it seems you’ve gotten side-tracked from time to time. Don’t worry if some of your jobs haven’t been in your chosen line of work. In this era of downsizing, company reorganizing, corporate bankruptcies, and wage-freezes, most of…
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    Commonweal Magazine

  • Vegetarianism & Gnosticism

    9 Aug 2010 | 8:38 am
    THE AMINO ACID TEST

  • The Club

    9 Aug 2010 | 8:34 am
    For a few years during college, I worked at a summer camp on a campus outside Boston. It was a wonderful experience, but an intensive one, in part because I didn’t have a car. If I wanted to get away on my day off, my options were largely limited to lying in an un-air-conditioned dorm room and listening to my tiny desk fan do what it could to dispel a humid Massachusetts summer.

  • Getting Old

    9 Aug 2010 | 8:32 am
    Over the years I’ve tried, not very successfully, to keep up with Martin Amis’s fictional output, working through long, substantial novels such as London Fields and The Information, and remembering little except an overall sardonic tone directed at his characters.

  • Backstage Pass

    9 Aug 2010 | 8:28 am
    The “White House book” is an odd, if familiar, genre. Presidential administrations try to tell their stories through volumes like Bob Woodward’s Bush at War and The Agenda: Inside the Clinton White House. These books could not be written without access to top officials.

  • Conciliator-in-Chief

    9 Aug 2010 | 8:25 am
    I sat a few feet from President Barack Obama for almost three hours just over a year ago. True, we never spoke. Or even shook hands. And sitting next to me was a Secret Service agent carrying a large gun concealed beneath his borrowed-for-the-occasion academic robes. Welcome to graduation at the University of Notre Dame.
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    Compassion International - Christian Blog on Child Poverty

  • Pink

    Web Team
    2 Sep 2010 | 12:48 am
    Pink is associated with purity, love and compassion. It communicates gentleness and freshness. Pink represents good health and life, which you offer to children in poverty. My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

  • Christian Community Outreach in Bolivia

    Galia Oropeza
    1 Sep 2010 | 12:45 am
      Church La Capilla 20 de Mayo began in 2004 under a small shade tree on the street, with some borrowed chairs and a lot of enthusiasm from neighborhood children. At the time, Pastor Raul was a youth pastor at another church in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. He began visiting the Normandia neighborhood to spend some time with the children, sharing the gospel with them, and providing the families with clothes, medicine and other items. “The teenagers have high possibilities of joining gangs, drinking and using drugs. Children and teenagers live this reality. When they are older they mix the…

  • A Big-picture Perspective

    Shaina Moats
    31 Aug 2010 | 12:38 am
    Today, I would like to introduce you to my fellow contact center employee, Becky. I spoke with her recently and our conversation was such a source of encouragement to me, I wanted to share it with you. Becky is going through a difficult time right now. Her husband has survived cancer twice, but the doctors have found another spot on his lung. Scared that the cancer has returned, she described her feelings to me. “I remember walking around the office and thinking ‘Does anyone know that my world has collapsed today? Does anyone even care?’” As always, God gave her hope in the midst of…

  • What Does Isaiah 58 Have to Do With Poverty?

    Web Team
    30 Aug 2010 | 12:25 am
    How does Isaiah 58 relate to extreme poverty? How does it relate to oppression and corruption? Does Isaiah 58 have anything to do with these topics? How about its relevance to how we serve the Lord today? What are your thoughts? 1 Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their rebellion and to the house of Jacob their sins. 2 For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to…

  • Purple

    Web Team
    27 Aug 2010 | 12:05 am
    Purple is associated with royalty. It symbolizes wisdom, nobility and ambition. It communicates wealth and extravagance. But it’s also the color of dignity – something you’re helping give to children in poverty. My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates
 
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    Daily Reflections

  • August 27 - September 3, 2010

    James M. Kushiner
    30 Aug 2010 | 11:47 am
    Friday, August 27Job 5: Job is addressed eight times by his three comforters, an arrangement that permits the first of those speakers, Eliphaz the Temanite, to address him three times. It is probably because he is the eldest of the three men (cf. Job 15:10) that Eliphaz speaks first, and this is surely also the reason why, near the end of the book, God addresses Eliphaz directly as the spokesman of the group (42:7). A native of Teman, Eliphaz exemplifies the ancient wisdom of Edom (cf. Genesis 36:11), concerning which Jeremiah inquired, “Is wisdom no more in Teman? Has counsel perished from…
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    Desiring God Blog

  • Let Him Deny Himself

    2 Sep 2010 | 2:45 pm
    (Author: Jon Bloom) The Christian life is a journey to the greatest joy that exists. But "the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few" (Matthew 7:14). Why is that? Because, paradoxically, in order to pursue our greatest joy, we must deny ourselves. It was a moment of euphoria for the disciples. Jesus was the Christ. Peter had confessed it and Jesus had confirmed it. The long-awaited arrival of Israel's Messiah had come! And the Twelve were at the center of it! Then oddly, Jesus immediately started talking about being murdered by his enemies. And he said some…

  • Meet Seven of Our National Conference Sponsors

    2 Sep 2010 | 4:30 am
    (Author: Tyler Kenney)This year's Desiring God National Conference could not be what we're praying and planning for without the generous help of our partner ministries. We are happy to highlight 7 of them for you here. To Every Tribe Ministries To Every Tribe exists to spread a passion for the supremacy of God among unreached peoples throughout the earth. To Every Tribe intends to purposefully glorify God by planting national led, self-sustaining, self-reproducing, evangelical Christian churches in the interior regions of Papua New Guinea and Mexico initially, and then to other unreached…

  • The Horizontal Dimension of Personal Breakthroughs

    1 Sep 2010 | 4:30 am
    (Author: Tyler Kenney)This is the third and final video John Piper made before his leave. It is about experiencing spiritual breakthroughs through the gifts of other believers. (See the first one on justification and the second one on loving others.) It ends with some implications for how we do small groups. Scroll down to read an edited transcript of the video. The following is an edited transcript of the video. I've been thinking a lot recently about relationships and about the way you being gifted one way and me being gifted another way relates to answers in prayer, or non-answers in…

  • Media from Our Interview with Tullian Tchividjian

    31 Aug 2010 | 7:45 pm
    (Author: Tyler Kenney)Below is the video from last Wednesday's DG LIVE broadcast with Tullian Tchividjian. You can also download the audio. Scroll down to whet your appetite with some of the juicier quotes we captured during the broadcast. "Flight from God always leads downward and never culminates in vivacious life." "The story of Jonah is the story of all of our lives . . . That's why the message of the gospel is so crucial even after we're saved." "The greatest hindrance to gospel advancement is not idols outside the church but those inside." "Don't ever create division in your church,…

  • Register for THINK Before Thursday

    31 Aug 2010 | 3:15 pm
    (Author: Tyler Kenney) Register for our National Conference before midnight tomorrow night and save $15. On September 2nd the price goes from $160 to $175. There are only about 500 seats left, so sign up while there's still room! Register now.
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    Emergent Village

  • 2010 Emergent Village Theological Conversation Synchroblog [1]

    Amy Moffitt
    29 Aug 2010 | 7:11 pm
    “Creating Liberated Spaces in a Post-Colonial World” During the week of August 30 through September 3, a group of people from a variety of perspectives will blog on the topic for this year’s Emergent Village Theological Conversation: “Creating Liberated Spaces in a Post-Colonial World”. The bloggers have been given the topic and asked to give their honest reaction. Bloggers include: – Jonathan Brink at jonathanbrink.com/blog – Annie Bullock at Marginal Theology marginaltheology.wordpress.com – Julie Clawson at onehandclapping julieclawson.com – Nelson Costa (in Portuguese…

  • Reflections on God, Nine Months After Cara's Birth and Death [11]

    Amy Moffitt
    21 Aug 2010 | 12:05 pm
    By Laryn Kragt Bakker To say that our world has been altered since our daughter Caritas died nine months ago would be an understatement. I see that in physical details like our two-year old continuing to reenact with dolls a baby in her tummy who is “so sick” and ends up dying, but also in my daily thoughts and feelings and in the way I view God and the world around us. In a strange way, I ended up with more questions but my faith feels stronger on a fundamental level. A friend of mine coined the phrase “faith-infused agnostic” and that term has grown on me. It reminds me of Meister…

  • Strange Awakenings: A Call to Faithful Vocation

    Amy Moffitt
    21 Aug 2010 | 11:59 am
    by Mihee Kim-Kort Moments of irony hit me hard…I think it’s because I subconsciously hold up my worldview like a blanket wrapped around me, these expectations and preconceived notions woven together tightly in my brain, so when something outside of my usual assumptions happens to me, it knocks me out cold and stays with me for awhile. I grew up in a traditional Presbyterian home…culturally Korean on the inside, culturally attempting-to-be-American (whatever that means) on the outside. But, no doubt there was an undeniable hierarchy in the house, as well as at our church home. My father…

  • Women and Men As Corn: Campesino Gathering in Nicaragua

    Amy Moffitt
    21 Aug 2010 | 11:35 am
    by Natanael Disla In October of 2008, I was sent to Nicaragua by the Dominican Republic Baptist Seminary (where I study) to participate in a campesino gathering organized by the Latin American and Caribbean Community of Ecumenical Theological Education (CETELA). The purpose of these campesino gatherings is to visit environmental projects and take the principles back home. Corn is the main ingredient of the Mesoamerican diet. It is said that women and men came from corn seeds, growing straight out of the earth. Therefore, it is important to take care of the soil that produces corn, wheat, and…

  • A Time To Reconstruct [95]

    Amy Moffitt
    18 Jul 2010 | 7:10 am
    by Jonathan Brink Over the last decade, many of us who have participated in what some call “the conversation” have been engaging a deconstruction process of our faith. In many ways this leaving was liberation from an old story. The traditional way of seeing the story in the Gospel just didn’t work anymore. The conversation became a place to share our fears, our stories, and our liberation. One of the real, valid criticisms of this process is that much of the conversation was a deconstruction process. In other words, we were tearing down an old story but nothing new was offered to take…
 
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    EPPC Publications

  • Debunking Medicare Myths

    1 Sep 2010 | 10:00 pm
    Despite all of the talk about overpaid private plans in Medicare, it turns out that some private options almost certainly would beat the traditional fee-for-service program in a direct price competition.

  • When Compromise Trumps Apostolic Tradition

    31 Aug 2010 | 10:00 pm
    Pope Benedict XVI's pastoral visit to Great Britain next month will unfold along a pilgrim's path metaphorically strewn with landmines.

  • Britain Can Benefit from Benedict

    30 Aug 2010 | 10:00 pm
    The seemingly endless stories of clerical sexual abuse and the mismanagement of these sins and crimes by Catholic bishops are not the only story to be told about the Church at the end of the first decade of the 21st century.

  • In Defense of Israel’s Legitimacy

    24 Aug 2010 | 10:00 pm
    The "Friends of Israel" initiative is an effort to restore a measure of moral integrity to an international environment that is becoming increasingly toxic because of untruths and rank prejudices.

  • Stem Cells, Life, and the Law

    24 Aug 2010 | 10:00 pm
    On August 23, a federal judge ruled that the Obama administration's stem cell policy is in violation of a federal law prohibiting taxpayer funding of embryo-destructive research. The ruling puts in sharp relief the moral debate about embryo research, and the administration's dogged refusal to defend human life from exploitation and destruction.
 
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    First Things | On the Square

  • The Deepest Rest of Restless Man

    Labor Day is upon us, the long weekend that puts an exclamation point on summer’s end. I’m planning, if that’s the right word, to do nothing in particular.Rest, however, is never simple and often ambiguous. We sometimes speak of those who have died as finally at rest, or as resting in peace. It’s not a negative image, but then again it’s not positive either. Most of us would rather keep at the work of life than enter the rest of death. So, yes, we cherish days off, but we are also capable of a paradoxical disposition: we get tired of rest.Aristotle can help us understand the…

  • Unplugging the Info-Tech God

    I never find the time to be alone with God during the week, so I’ve dedicated this Sunday afternoon to prayer. But before I do I should check my e-mail so I won’t be distracted. It won’t take long before. . . Thirty-two new messages, including one from the boss? I better reply right now. They might be important. Some invitations from Facebook. Those are easy to clear out so let me accept them and I’m . . . hmm, I didn’t realize I had more notifications. Looks like Stacy finally launched a blog; I’ll just click through really quickly to check it out. Some great stuff. I really…

  • The Solidarity Difference

    Thirty years ago, on Aug. 31, 1980, an electrician named Lech Walesa signed the Gdansk Accords, ending a two-week-old strike at that Hanseatic city’s Lenin Shipyards. Walesa signed with a giant souvenir pen featuring a portrait of Pope John Paul II. The choice of pen was not, as Marxists might have said, an accident. Neither was the distinctive revolution that unfolded in the wake of the Gdansk Accords, which were forged over two weeks of high drama on Poland’s Baltic coast.The Accords were the pivot between John Paul’s Polish pilgrimage of June 1979 and the rise of the “Independent…

  • The Old Times, the End Times, and Glenn Beck

    Not being a fan of Glenn Beck’s, plans for his “Restoring Honor” rally flew rather under my radar nearly until the day was upon us. I wrote to a friend who is more attentive to Beck than I, asking, “What is this about, really, I’m not sure I get it.” Her answer was uncharacteristically vague and inarticulate. “He wants to restore honor and integrity to the country, because things have gotten off track, everyone can feel it!” Sentimentalism and an over-emphasis on feelings, in general, have weakened the nation’s critical-thinking skills and our political processes. My friend…

  • BP’s Imbalanced, Uncharitable Funding

    BP, the company that caused the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history, has opted to funnel tens of millions of dollars through state governments rather than private charities doing the bulk of the work in the Gulf Coast region. By embracing government bureaucracy over private efficiency, the company is forcing charities struggling to respond to the enormous human needs—needs created by BP’s catastrophic spill—to rely on government to deliver the funding they must have to continue their crucial and irreplaceable work.BP announced recently that it was sending $52 million to four…
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    FlowerDust.net | Anne Jackson

  • Another Book Release Day Surprise – Get Permission to Speak Freely on Audio for $2.98!

    Anne Jackson
    31 Aug 2010 | 10:18 am
    A few months ago, I sat in a little room for two days and read my book into a microphone that was essentially bigger than my face. I kept saying words incorrectly. Easy words. Like “rediscover” and “understand.” My voice started getting rough and I thought I began to sound like a man. The producer assured me I didn’t. But you can decide for yourself. My book (read by yours truly, in quite possibly a manly voice), is released through ChristianAudio.com and today through Friday (at noon Pacific Time), you can download it – yes – the entire audio book…

  • Permission to Speak Freely – Free Excerpt #7

    Anne Jackson
    30 Aug 2010 | 8:10 pm
    So, you’ve made it to the end. But it’s not really the end. You’ve just read six essays of my new book Permission to Speak Freely: Essays and Art on Fear, Confession and Grace. This is the final one…for today anyway. There are still 22 essays you haven’t read, plus all the art and poetry and other things that have been compiled into this lovely four-color book. But fear not, you can pick up a copy of the book here. Or if you’d like an autographed copy, or a T-shirt, you can click here. Or you can leave a comment below and tell me how you landed here (whose…

  • A Tough Confession to Make

    Anne Jackson
    30 Aug 2010 | 12:47 pm
    A couple of weeks ago, I was on a retreat with a handful of people who earn their living from the platform. That platform could be writing, public speaking, or doing music professionally. At one point early in the retreat, somebody said something along the lines of, “Self-promotion is the opposite of the character of Jesus.” Given I had just written about my hesitation on how to market and promote a book, this statement made my stomach churn. The group shared some thoughts on that – the difficulty of realizing the complete truth of that statement (I mean, how many times in…

  • Merton Mondays #8 – Love is Our Measure

    Anne Jackson
    29 Aug 2010 | 9:59 pm
    The measure of our identity, of our being (the two are the same), is the amount of our love for God. The more we love earthly things – reputation, importance, pleasure, easy and success – the less we love God. Our identity is dissipated among things that have no value, and we are drowned and die in trying to live in the material things we would like to possess, or in the projects we would like to complete to objectify the work of our own wills. Then, we we come to die, we find we have squandered all our love (that is, our being) on things of nothingness, and that we are nothing,…

  • Three Seconds to Vote on My Shirt!

    Anne Jackson
    25 Aug 2010 | 2:58 pm
    Can you take 3 seconds to leave a comment and vote on which shirt you’d buy (if any?) of the five options below? If you can leave your gender and age, that would be super helpful. Any other commentary is optional but would come in handy if you have, say, thirty seconds to spare. Feel free to share too, if you like “Shirt C” but would like it better in grey. And how much you would pay for a shirt like this…you guys are my heroes. Thanks! In keeping with the theme of my book, I present to you… Special thanks to Our Shirts Don’t Suck for the design and…
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    Godspace

  • Healing Prayer

    Christine Sine
    2 Sep 2010 | 9:29 am
    As many of you know I have been struggling with a very bad sinus infection this week.  Today is the first day I have felt normal for a couple of weeks.  In the midst of this I am very aware of friends who have far worse illnesses than I have ever struggled with – my friend Steve Ruetschle in particular who has just gone home from the hospital – for him normal is now being a quadriplegic with three young children and a wife who is struggling to cope with the new realities; I know that God wills healing and wholeness for all the peoples of the earth and I long for the day when…

  • Jesus Breathes and we live

    Christine Sine
    1 Sep 2010 | 9:05 am
    Yesterday I wrote a new post about breathing prayers.  I talked about the fact God breathed life into us so that we became living beings.   Then I started work on a new article for my book To Garden with God which I intend to revise and update for next year.  I was researching the gospel of John and the theme of re-creation in Christ that is strong throughout the book. One of the references I used commented on the fact that God breathed life into us in Genesis and then after the resurrection Jesus breathed into the disciples and filled them with the Holy Spirit – the life of the new…

  • The Breath of God

    Christine Sine
    31 Aug 2010 | 11:01 am
    Over this last week I have been struggling with one of the worst sinus infections I have had for many years.  In the midst of it I have become very aware of my breathing, something that when I am well I can easily take for granted.  It has been a great reminder to me that I owe my very existence to the breath of God.  God made humankind from the dust of the earth but it was only when God breathed on us that we became living beings. God breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils and the man became a living person.  (Gen 2:7). Over the years I have posted a number of…

  • Preparing to Paint – God is at Work

    Christine Sine
    30 Aug 2010 | 9:52 am
    We are getting ready to paint our kitchen and breakfast nook.  I am quite excited about this as we are going to redesign the breakfast nook as my office – a long overdue change as at the present time I work at our dining room table and constantly need to move everything every time we entertain. What has amazed me is the amount preparation that needs to be done before we paint.  First the walls and cupboards needed to be washed down to remove the dirt and grease of 10 years of cooking.  Then the cupboards needed to be sanded.  And finally we need to tape the wooden trim on the…

  • Help Prevent Burnout – Take a Cleaning Day

    Christine Sine
    27 Aug 2010 | 9:15 am
    Today is a long overdue cleaning day for me and I am delighted that I will have several helpers to assist me.  This is no ordinary cleaning day.  We will be emptying out closets that have not been touched for years and burrowing into corners that rarely see the light of day. This kind of cleaning, at least in the northern hemisphere, we usually associate with spring and the season of Lent when we clean out our houses as a symbol of the inner cleaning that God is doing in our lives.  But the autumn too seems an appropriate time to begin the cleaning process as a symbol of the cleansing our…
 
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    HighCallingBlogs.com

  • Spiritual Field Trips

    Gordon Atkinson
    2 Sep 2010 | 6:00 am
    Do you remember how incredibly tedious school was when you were a teenager? Do you recall those eternally long days and weeks and months and years of adult designed and enforced education? I remember spending a lot of time with my chin in my hand, staring at the wall while my teacher read things like Ode on a Grecian Urn to us. But sometimes we would get to school and discover there was a field trip, a blessed reprieve from the tedious repetition of class. We could have been going to a pencil factory for a lecture on #2 lead, but we didn’t care. It was wonderful if only because it broke…

  • Restoring the Natural Order

    charitysingleton
    1 Sep 2010 | 12:23 am
    We sat down at my kitchen table for lunch, my dad and I, just like we have dozens of times since I bought this fixer-upper four years ago. This house has been a joint project for the two us: me, the owner and supplier of materials; and my dad, the one who does all the work. On this particular day, Dad was cleaning the gutters, scraping out the sticks and leaves that had accumulated from spring storms that had blown through in waves. Though his handiwork fills my house—from the closet doors to the kitchen sink—that day was only his second workday since he had heart surgery back in…

  • Nice Guys Finish…What?

    Glynn Young
    31 Aug 2010 | 3:07 am
    I’m reading the newspaper one Tuesday morning, and there on the obituary page I see a photo with a story about a local retired executive who had died of cancer. I stared. I could barely comprehend the words. I wrote speeches for this man for four years, some of the best speeches I’ve ever written. I loved working for him. He was smart, capable, a quiet kind of leader, and somehow he had managed to work his way through the ranks and arrive at the executive building. I worked with him for his last four years before he retired, and in his own understated way he turned the company –…

  • Who Can You Trust: Book Review

    Laura Boggess
    30 Aug 2010 | 5:13 am
    God is jerking me around. I felt his frustration. My husband had stepped out in faith numerous times…only to face one frustration after another in his ministry. It’s the same old story: Church loses membership. Church identifies need for change. Church implements change. Parts of the congregation resist. My husband was part of the change. Just three years previously, he was an unbeliever. But God revealed himself to my man through music and the result was a stunning display of  Glory. A new service was added to our worship. My husband became the Praise and Worship Leader. Membership…

  • SuperSized Solace

    l. l. barkat
    27 Aug 2010 | 11:00 am
    The other day I watched SuperSize Me for the first time (okay, I’m a little behind on my films). The movie chronicled a human experiment in fastfood eating. The results were surprising. In just 30 days of eating fastfood for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the previously healthy experimenter raised his cholesterol levels to the heart attack danger zone and damaged his liver almost as if he’d developed alcohol-induced cirrhosis. That was bad enough, but I couldn’t help thinking how bereft his actual eating experiences had become— as he stuffed food into himself in the car, on…
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    Good Letters: The Image Blog

  • All At Once

    2 Sep 2010 | 3:19 pm
    A week or so ago, I stood in a place that’s one of my favorites, looking out upon a view that I’ll always consider the best, and at a time of day that did the whole experience justice—though in truth, no time is a bad one to stand there. I went to this place because it’s likely I won’t get to stand there much longer (another story for another time)—and so wanted to imprint on my memory its every dimension—sights, sounds, smells, the touch and taste of its air on my skin and tongue. I wanted to “flood the senses,” as we’re told we can do, and capture all of what’s best…

  • My Hometown...and Yours?

    1 Sep 2010 | 3:06 pm
    Dear Good Letters community, you know, sometimes you just have to phone it in. I’m sitting here on a hot sunny day in Jackson, Mississippi on vacation at my brother’s, and am just about to visit my hometown of Yazoo City for the first time in three years. I anticipate that there will be a lot to write about that encounter—it’s the first time my six-year-old son will have seen my childhood home, or that our family, together, will have strewn flowers over my father’s grave. We will drive into the Delta and my Yankee children will see rows of cotton lapping past the car for the very…

  • My House as Allegory

    31 Aug 2010 | 2:48 pm
    I think there probably are people who don’t interpret cracks in their bathroom ceilings as evidence either of cosmic doom or of personal inadequacy. I am not one of those people. My friend Amanda said as much to reassure me the other day, and then she laughed a bit at us both. I’d lain most of the previous night wide awake, unable to settle, fretting about my crumbling ceiling and my evaporating bank account and the circuitous trail of causality that had landed me there. I bought my first house about a year ago. It’s a 1940’s bungalow in a hip little neighborhood of Jackson, and I…

  • How to Pray at Ground Zero

    30 Aug 2010 | 2:58 pm
    I met Daisy Kahn and her husband Imam Feisal Rauf a few summers ago at The Chautauqua Institute, the western New York interfaith arts community. They have long been featured speakers there. That summer, my husband and I had a chance to sit and chat with them for about an hour about their creative initiatives for bridge-building between American Muslims and non-Muslims. In 1997, they had founded the New York-based American Society for Muslim Advancement....

  • Last Night I Was Thinking of You

    27 Aug 2010 | 2:38 pm
    It is last night, many nights and years ago, a night when I drank a glass of wine and then I cut my hair. The wine I drank from the fat bulb of a fine crystal wine glass—the finest glass we owned, one of a wedding gift pair, against which all cheap plates and plastics looked pale and unreal. I held the glass in one hand as I lay reading in the white-washed cave of our basement apartment, stroking the glass with a finger: seeing the clear moisture wick down when the wine swirled and settled, seeing the print of my lips—no color, only skin—feathered on the rim. “Do you remember,” I…
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    It Takes A Church...

  • 31 Aug 2010 | 8:06 pm

    Tod Bolsinger
    31 Aug 2010 | 8:06 pm
    Travels with Charlie...I'm off the grid for a week of backpacking... Aequam memento rebus in arduis servare mentem - "Remember when life's path is steep to keep your mind even." (Horace) One more from Gus and Hal when I return: Gus and Hal plant a church.

  • Gus and Hal Get out into the World: Living Beyond Limitations

    Tod Bolsinger
    30 Aug 2010 | 9:45 am
    Last post I introduced you to two widowers at my church, Gus and Hal.  Gus can’t walk, Hal is blind.  Either one of those disabilities is enough to discourage most of us, let alone a couple of 80 year old widowers who are feeling the effects of age and loss.  You wouldn’t begrudge either one if they decided to stay home and watch SportsCenter (well, Gus anyway) or listen to books on tape.  Oftentimes losses lead to a lesser experience of life.  We become more aware of our limitations and we, well, limit ourselves.  And indeed, in time that will be the case with all of us. But Gus…

  • Gus and Hal Go to Church: Possibilities for Burned Out Clerics

    Tod Bolsinger
    24 Aug 2010 | 12:15 pm
    Gus and Hal are widowers at my church.  Octogenarians both, they have become friends since their wives passed.  It's getting harder for both of them to come to church on Sundays, but to be sure when they are there, they are there together.  Hal is blind. Gus is an amputee confined to a wheel chair.  When they come to church, Hal pushes Gus and Gus directs Hal.  They make their way through the parking lot and the patio to their place together in the pew.  And together, and only together, they come to church.  A blind man who can't see giving energy to a man who can't…

  • The Death of Middle Judicatories

    Tod Bolsinger
    22 Aug 2010 | 6:40 pm
    Hamm,_The_Death_of_MIddle_Judicatories,_8.23.10_Edition.pdf (42 KB) via columbiapartnership.typepad.com A thought-provoking article by Dick Hamm and a link to the Los Ranchos Presbytery's attempt to move beyond the "spoke and wheel" approach that Dick Hamm wisely critiques.

  • Burned out or Soul-Starved?

    Tod Bolsinger
    17 Aug 2010 | 9:47 am
    In the Greek myth, Narcissus dies of starvation.  Cursed to fall in love with the next face he sees because he cruelly hurts another, he sees his reflection in a pond, falls in love with his own image and can’t pull himself away—even to eat or drink.  Continually ‘feeding’ the adoration of the image, he never eats and dies.Today, the debate over what “causes” narcissism is filled with as many varied voices as there are experts.  But almost everyone agrees on this: Pastoral ministry is rampant with narcissistically wounded people.  We clergy join politicians, entertainers, and…
 
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    Mere Orthodoxy

  • News and Notes: Courage, DC, and a Redesign

    Matthew Lee Anderson
    1 Sep 2010 | 6:31 pm
    Blogging has been lighter of late because I’ve been writing the book and preparing for some speaking engagements. So I thought I’d give a quick update of what I’m up to and (if you’re interested) how you can help: 1) Wheatstone Academy: I’m going to be speaking at a three-day high school retreat sponsored by Wheatstone Academy. The theme is courage. Have some ideas of what I should say? Put them in the comments below. I’m open to every and any suggestion. 2) The Mere-O Mixer, Washington D.C. Edition: If there are any readers in the DC area or who are…

  • Unwinding the Riddle of Glenn Beck’s Moral Authority

    Matthew Lee Anderson
    31 Aug 2010 | 8:13 pm
    I don’t want to pay attention to Glenn Beck right now–I’ve got more pressing things on my mind at the moment–but Ross Douthat’s analysis demands closer consideration. To be specific, I think the lesson he draws from Beck’s weekend rally about the role of moral authority in the political order is almost right: To loop back around to Glenn Beck’s rally on Saturday, I think that the peculiar moral power that Zurowik recognized in the day’s festivities — mawkish and maudlin and tacky as they often were —  is entirely contingent on their unexpected…

  • Metaphysics and an ‘Evangelical’ Ethic

    Matthew Lee Anderson
    30 Aug 2010 | 8:14 pm
    From Oliver O’Donovan (broken up to aid understanding for internet-conditioned readers….like me): Any attempt to think about morality must make a decision early in its course, overt or covert, about these forms of order which we seem to discern in the world.  Either they are there, or they are not. This decision, which will shape the character of the whole moral philosophical enterprise, forces itself as much upon secular as upon Christian thought.  Secular man can observe the same indications of order as anyone else.  He can see that vegetables are ordered to serve animal life…

  • Mere-O University: What is Courage?

    Matthew Lee Anderson
    29 Aug 2010 | 5:34 pm
    I’m giving a few talks that touch on the theme of courage for Wheatstone Academy in a two weeks, and have been reading through Plato’s Laches as part of my preparation. The dialogue, which is reasonably short, doesn’t resolve the question about the nature of courage, but it does offer raise some difficult questions about whether it is possible to gain any virtue with gaining all of them, and what makes courage unique as a virtue. If you’re interested in helping me with my preparation for the talk, I’ll be hosting a conference call where we discuss Laches this…

  • In Defense of Dinesh

    Andrew Walker
    27 Aug 2010 | 4:00 pm
    The evangelical world encountered another skirmish this week with the election of conservative public intellectual (and erstwhile Catholic) Dinesh D’Souza to the presidency of King’s College. Where this fever-pitch overreaches is the mistaken belief that King’s is lessening its Protestant standards. I’m not sure how one arrives at fearing the desecration of a Protestant institution by a haphazardly Catholic who now proudly attends an evangelical church. Opinions from both sides have weighed in on the matter. Opinions on the debate include notable Reformed church…
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    novus•lumen

  • “Take Time To Be Holy”

    Jeremy
    19 Aug 2010 | 11:46 am
    Was doing the daily office today using my daily office site (dailyoffice.novuslumen.net) and came across this hymn selection. Thought it was an apt reminder in our overly indulgent hyper-paced world. Enjoy! Take Time to be Holy Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord; Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word. Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak, Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek. Take time to be holy, the world rushes on; Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone. By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be; Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall…

  • The Ebb and Flow of Life: A Personal Life Update

    Jeremy
    16 Aug 2010 | 8:51 am
    So it has been nearly four months since I have blogged steadily. After outing myself from the Emergent conversation for theological reasons and taking two of their primary voices to task, life got in the way of consistently maintaining this space. I’ve made a return appearance for a few reason: 1) to update my life; and 2) to share some projects that I am working on for the future. First, since my last posting, I have finally graduated with my Master of Divinity (specialization in Church Planting and Development). After 3 years of Greek and Hebrew languages, Old Testament and New Testament…

  • Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola New Book: “The Jesus Manifesto”

    Jeremy
    31 May 2010 | 5:55 am
    Thomas Nelson is releasing a new book called Jesus Manifesto: Restoring the Supremacy and Sovereignty of Jesus Christ by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola. This book will be on special discount from Amazon.com on June 1st, the date of the release. You can learn more by going to www.theJesusManifesto.com. Endorsements by Rowan Williams, Matt Chandler, Calvin Miller, Ed Young, Jack Hayford, Shane Claiborne, Ed Stetzer, Reggie McNeal, Mark Batterson, Gregory Boyd, David Fitch, Steve Brown, Dan Kimball, Margaret Feinberg, Mark Chironna, Francis Frangipane, Todd Hunter, Alan Hirsch, Chris Seay,…

  • Brian McLaren’s “New Kind of Christianity”: A Theological Review, The Sex Question 7

    Jeremy
    6 Apr 2010 | 7:05 am
    Post Series 0: Intro 1: Narrative Question 2: Authority Question 3: God Question 4: Jesus Question 5: Gospel Question Theological Foundation Recap 6: Church Question 7: Sex Question 8: Future Question 9: Pluralism Question 10: What-Do-We-Do-Now Question 11: Final Thoughts The question Brian is trying to answer in this chapter is this: “Can we find a way to address human sexuality?” That’s the question of the chapter he has proposed. The real question floating through all of Brian’s rhetorical BS is this: “Is homosexual behavior normative in the Scriptures and…

  • Brian McLaren’s “New Kind of Christianity”: A Theological Review, The Church Question 6

    Jeremy
    2 Apr 2010 | 6:24 am
    Post Series 0: Intro 1: Narrative Question 2: Authority Question 3: God Question 4: Jesus Question 5: Gospel Question Theological Foundation Recap 6: Church Question 7: Sex Question 8: Future Question 9: Pluralism Question 10: What-Do-We-Do-Now Question 11: Final Thoughts After setting down his alternative theological foundation, Brian launches into an exploration of “be-ology”—what it means to be as a Christian and human. (160) A natural first question after such a jarring experience with the first 5 questions is this: “What do we do about the Church?” Or more specifically: What is…
 
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    Let My People Think (RZIM)

  • Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy (Part 2 of 2)

    Ravi Zacharias
    27 Aug 2010 | 10:00 pm
    Dietrich Bonhoeffer is one of the most intriguing figures of the 20th century. He was a pastor, martyr, prophet and spy. He also plotted to assassinate Adolph Hitler. How does a man of God justify his role in such a plan? Find out this week on Let My People Think as Stuart McAllister interviews author Eric Metaxas.

  • Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy (Part 1 of 2)

    Ravi Zacharias
    20 Aug 2010 | 10:00 pm
    Dietrich Bonhoeffer is one of the most intriguing figures of the 20th century. He was a pastor, martyr, prophet and spy. He also plotted to assassinate Adolph Hitler. How does a man of God justify his role in such a plan? Find out this week on Let My People Think as Stuart McAllister interviews author Eric Metaxas.

  • In the Course of Human Events (Part 2 of 2)

    Ravi Zacharias
    13 Aug 2010 | 10:00 pm
    There is one argument for the existence of God that isn’t as well known as some others, but it’s just as powerful. It’s the argument from human events. This week on Let My People Think, Ravi Zacharias looks for evidence of God’s existence in our daily lives.

  • In the Course of Human Events (Part 1 of 2)

    Ravi Zacharias
    6 Aug 2010 | 10:00 pm
    There is one argument for the existence of God that isn’t as well known as some others, but it’s just as powerful. It’s the argument from human events. This week on Let My People Think, Ravi Zacharias looks for evidence of God’s existence in our daily lives.

  • Has Christianity Failed You? (Part 2 of 2)

    Ravi Zacharias
    30 Jul 2010 | 10:00 pm
    There are an awful lot of Christians walking around these days who are disappointed with their faith. They’ve been hurt by the church or other believers and it’s affected their walk with God. Ravi Zacharias talks about his new book titled, "Has Christianity Failed You" this week on Let My People Think.
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    Real Live Preacher

  • Spiritual Field Trips

    rlp
    2 Sep 2010 | 7:35 am
    Do you remember how incredibly tedious school was when you were a teenager? Do you recall those eternally long days and weeks and months and years of adult designed and enforced education? I remember spending a lot of time with my chin in my hand, staring at the wall while my teacher read things like Ode on a Grecian Urn to us. But sometimes we would get to school and discover there was a field trip, a blessed reprieve from the tedious repetition of class. We could have been going to a pencil factory for a lecture on #2 lead, but we didn’t care. It was wonderful if only because it broke up…

  • Bearing one another's burdens

    rlp
    26 Aug 2010 | 9:20 am
    I want to make a simple request of those who read this piece. I am going to mention Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, but I will not offer an opinion on whether or not the Park 51 Community Center should be built. The debates on this subject are now generating more heat than light, I fear. Let’s not do that here. I would be interested in comments from you about something else, though. Having been a clergyman for many years, I can’t help but watch the drama of Park 51 unfold with a different perspective. Because I know what it’s like to carry someone else’s reputation. When I was a Baptist…

  • Spiritual growth by subtraction

    rlp
    19 Aug 2010 | 6:15 am
    My wife and I agreed that last Sunday had a Quaker feel to it, so we went to the San Antonio Quaker meeting for an hour of extravagant silence. I spent the first twenty minutes as I usually do – settling in and getting used to the quiet. But soon the question of the day became apparent. “How will I serve God now that I am no longer a pastor?” I’m working under the assumption that every Christian needs a ministry. I let go of one ministry, so I’ll need to find another. Right now I’m mowing the grass at Covenant Baptist Church. But I don’t know if that’s my official calling for…

  • Gentle suggestions for doubting Christians

    rlp
    12 Aug 2010 | 6:03 am
    I’m a natural-born skeptic. I find it hard to believe in things unless I can be convinced of their reality with proof or at least very clear evidence. C.S. Lewis pegged me with his observation that some people will commit to nothing rather than end up being wrong about anything. If professor Lewis hadn’t died the year I was born, I might think he had been reading my diary. I was brought up in the Church and was happy to be counted among the faithful, but inevitable doubts surfaced about the time I got into high school. I kept my skeptical thoughts to myself, initially. My father was a…

  • Fractured Family

    rlp
    5 Aug 2010 | 6:10 am
    A few years ago I had the idea that the people of our world divide easily into two groups: church people and non-church people. That point of view was understandable; I was a pastor and thoroughly steeped in the culture of American Churchianity. In those days I attended an unusual funeral. I was there because I knew Laura, the daughter of the deceased. Laura once told me that her mother was not a church person and had a bit of a wild side. Her mother’s closest friends had been her co-workers. They often met after work for drinks and fun. Many of them were present at the funeral, and they…
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    RedBlueChristian

  • Illegal Aliens and Blind Justice

    ChrisB
    24 Aug 2010 | 6:48 pm
    Where does “love your neighbor” end? We feel sorry for poor people who are just trying to get by. We want to give them a break, and we want to see others do the same. If we’re honestly trying to love our neighbor, we’ll probably help them out — with money, food, or an odd job if we can. But we don’t help them jack someone’s car. The comments on the previous post, “Loving Your Illegal Neighbor,” called to mind a very hard-nosed Proverb: “Men do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger when he is starving. Yet if he is…

  • Loving Your Illegal Neighbor

    ChrisB
    11 Aug 2010 | 8:26 am
    How does the command to love our neighbor as ourselves relate to illegal immigration? Should Christians support an open border policy or amnesty or something like that? Aren’t these people just looking to make a better life for themselves and their families? They just want the opportunity to work and feed their kids. Wouldn’t we do the same thing if we were in their place? How can we deny them that chance? We shouldn’t discriminate against them just for being born on the other side of an imaginary line. If we want the poor to help themselves, what more can we ask than these…

  • What Does It Mean To Be Ahead Of The Curve?

    Tony Mitchell
    19 Jul 2010 | 8:30 am
    In a piece that I posted way back in 2008 (“How Did You Get On The Information Superhighway?), I pointed out that many students are not what we could call computer literate.  Now it might be that I should have said technologically literate instead of computer literate because our society has evolved from a collection of items to a combination of items. But having a device that allows you to make phone calls and search the web and send messages and take pictures doesn’t mean that you really know what you are doing.  As I said a couple of weeks ago, , “What Does It Take?”,…

  • He Was A Teacher First

    Tony Mitchell
    6 Jun 2010 | 4:30 pm
    I was working on an education piece but I first want to express my thoughts about John Wooden’s death at the age of 99 on Friday (June 4, 2010). I do not remember when it was that I became interested in John Wooden. It was probably, as I wrote in my review of his last book (John Wooden – A review of “A Game Plan for Life – the power of mentoring” by John Wooden and Don Yaeger), back in 1968 when I bought his book on coaching basketball, Practical Modern Basketball, and I was harboring some thoughts of going into coaching. But over the years, as I read about him and what he had done,…

  • But This Is What We Wanted!

    Tony Mitchell
    30 May 2010 | 7:20 pm
    It is quite possible that these are the “end times”, though not necessarily those favored by religious fundamentalists. They see the end of the world from their own moral viewpoint; one that, in my mind, is self-righteous, self-centered, and hypocritical. They complain about the morals of others while clearly living a life that follows the dictum, “do what I say, not what I do.” They want a vengeful God, a hateful God so they can justify their own hatred, their own anger, and most importantly, their own ignorance. We hear many on the right side of the political and religious spectrum…
 
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    Red Letter Believers

  • Of gold rushes and gold busts: What's going to last?

    1 Sep 2010 | 4:00 am
    My grandfather lived just a couple of miles from Coloma, California where James Marshall discovered gold and led to great rush of 1849. I remember riding my bike along the riverbanks where the nuggets first settled in Marshall's pan, making a poor man instantly rich. Thousands of people descended upon the region, arriving with the expectation – not the hope – of striking it rich and becoming wealthy. Ironically, it wasn’t the miners who generally struck it rich – it was the men who served the miners that became wealthy. Men like Leland Stanford and Levi Strauss…

  • Take this job and love it

    30 Aug 2010 | 4:57 am
    It's almost old news now, but I can't seem to shake the image of Jet Bue flight attendant Steven Slater exploding in anger, screaming profanities, and with a final, "I can't take this anymore," slid out the emergency exit on the JFK tarmac. Whoa! First of all, anyone who quits a job in this economy is not thinking straight. Certainly, there are thousands of other flight attendants who are doing just fine and would never think to quit. But there are two sides to every job and it comes down to our attitudes. That's why two people can do exactly the same work and have two totally different…

  • Hiding Your Treasure at Work

    27 Aug 2010 | 6:02 am
    (I was honored to have the following article recently published by my friend Brad at Marketplace Christianity. The blog has a great ministry focus and Brad's outlook is unique. Check his blog out here and visit often!) My dresser is probably not unlike yours. It has drawers on two sides, every one of them packed full of clothing. I have a drawer for my socks, another for my shorts and another for my pants. Shirts and underwear have their own places. Everything has its place, so when I need to, I can go to the drawer and pull out what I require. In life, I have similar drawers that I…

  • So, you still think you're special?

    26 Aug 2010 | 9:36 am
    If the Earth’s population shrank to exactly 100 people, with all existing human ratios remaining the same, what would we be left with? 57 of those people would be from Asia. 21 would be from Europe. 8 would be from Africa. 14 would be from the Western Hemisphere. 50 percent of the wealthy would belong to only six people 70 people would be unable to read 1 person would have a college education Which of these statistics surprised you? Comment here.Read all past issues at www.redletterbelievers.com

  • Man Finds Millions Buried on Old Farm

    25 Aug 2010 | 4:00 am
    Today, Brad Harmon from Marketplace Christianity and I are trading posts with other. Brad is the founder and editor for Marketplace Christianity. A former certified public accountant, he now spends his time blogging, speaking, and consulting on ways to bring our faith into the marketplace. We are both writing on how to apply Matt 13:44 in the workplace. I’m honored to have my post on his website, found here. Bradley’s excellent post follows below. One of my favorite television shows is American Pickers on the History Channel. A camera crew follows two men, Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz,…
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    Reformissionary

  • Music Monday 8.30.10

    Steve McCoy
    30 Aug 2010 | 9:45 am
    MUST VIEW: Arcade Fire interactive video for "We Used To Wait." So cool. $5 August Albums: My Favs including Mumford & Sons, The Black Keys, John Coltrane, Classical music & tons more | All 1,000+ at Amazon (sale ends tomorrow!) Daytrotter: Lost In The Trees | Surfer Blood  Streaming Free: Junip: Fields (Jose Gonzalez) | Justin Townes Earle: Harlem River Blues | The Thermals: Personal Life | The Weepies: Be My Thrill Sarah Jaffe is my new, favorite discovery (found her via Filmspotting podcast). Here's the amazing song "Clementine." Jaffe's album,…

  • GCM Conference - Austin in October

    Steve McCoy
    26 Aug 2010 | 10:59 am
    Austin has more to offer than good music. The GCM Collective Conference is coming October 28-30. You need to be there. If you are unfamiliar, GCM stands for "Gospel Community Mission." From the website...The GCM Collective exists to promote, create and equip Gospel Communities on Mission. A gospel community is a group of believers that lives out the mission of God together as family, in a specific area to a particular people group, by declaring and demonstrating the gospel in tangible forms.  Regular people, living ordinary lives, with great gospel intentionality. GCM…

  • Music Monday 8.23.10

    Steve McCoy
    23 Aug 2010 | 6:09 pm
    BREAKINGSufjan Stevens released a new EP and took everyone by surprise. All Delighted People is only $5 for 8 songs and it's epic. And all the people are truly delighted. Review: If you missed it, check my review of Matthew Smith: Watch The Rising Day. Check out Brent Thomas' review of Doug Burr: O Ye Devastatorbuy it."Soaring strings and wistful pedal steel frame the questions of life and the struggles life and faith." Streaming Free: S. Carey: All We Grow (Bon Iver drummer) | Philip Selway: Familial (Radiohead drummer) | Ra Ra Riot: The Orchard | Dead Confederate:…

  • Music Review - Matthew Smith: Watch The Rising Day

    Steve McCoy
    20 Aug 2010 | 10:32 am
    I first heard of Matthew Smith (Facebook and Twitter) as one voice in the Indelible Grace group of artists. His songs quickly became some of our favorites. There's something confident & encouraging in his voice. I got the pleasure of serving alongside him when Michael Spencer (iMonk) invited me to speak and Matthew to sing at his school in Kentucky a few years back. Matthew asked me to review his new album, Watch The Rising Day, and it was an easy "yes."  Most of the album is Matthew reworking hymns long forgotten. And they are wonderful. He also includes his acoustic…

  • First Day of School 2006-2010

    Steve McCoy
    19 Aug 2010 | 3:52 pm
    2010 2009 2008 2007 2006
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    The Scriptorium Daily: Middlebrow

  • Three Steps to the Trinity

    Fred Sanders
    31 Aug 2010 | 7:40 pm
    My book on the Trinity is officially released today: The Deep Things of God: How the Trinity Changes Everything. Here’s a thought based on the book, though I don’t put it exactly this way there. A lot of Bible-believing Christians have trouble seeing the doctrine of the Trinity in Scripture. They see a verse here and a verse there that help prove the different parts of the doctrine (the deity of Christ, the unity of God, etc), but they don’t see the whole package put together in any one place. Granting that the doctrine is not compactly gathered into any one verse (not even…

  • “Here is Your God:” Songs from Isaiah

    Fred Sanders
    30 Aug 2010 | 3:24 pm
    This weekend was the official release of a new set of songs from my home church, Grace Evangelical Free Church in La Mirada, CA. The album has a website where you can listen to the songs online, buy the album, or buy individual tracks. There’s also a blog there, which includes well-produced videos with interviews about the music. The standout tracks,I think, are the two that are also most obviously suited for congregational singing: the title song, “Here is Your God,” and “Light of the Lord.” But that’s just my impression; give them a listen and see what…

  • So Horrible It Taints All

    John Mark Reynolds
    30 Aug 2010 | 1:23 pm
    Reflections after reading Harriet Jacobs’ Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl Slavery was the original American sin. I don’t know anyone who justifies race-based slavery, but I have known seemingly good folk with more than a dollop of sympathy for the Confederacy. Growing centralized government makes “states’ rights” look good, and self-determination is a popular modern cause. If the South wanted to be free, why use brutal force to bring it back within the Union? Lincoln makes the case for the Union better than anyone, but the slaves themselves wrote eloquent testimonies as to why…

  • Two Approaches to the Great Books: Chronological vs. Thematic

    Allen Yeh
    30 Aug 2010 | 12:00 am
    We just started a new academic year at Biola University, with the corresponding influx of new freshmen.  In the Torrey Honors Institute, we have two approaches to Great Books education:  read the books chronologically (in our “Morgan House,” named for G. Campbell Morgan), or thematically (in our “Johnson House,” named for Phillip E. Johnson). Our new freshmen often wonder which is the best approach, or perhaps expressed in a more nuanced way, what are the advantages and disadvantages of each?  Torrey was founded with the Morgan House curriculum, and more recently added the Johnson…

  • Pentecostal Power and Euripides

    John Mark Reynolds
    27 Aug 2010 | 11:41 am
    I have lain on the floor under the power of God . . . at least, I must say to my skeptical reader, it seemed so to me. At some points in my life, it felt as if God came and took power over every faculty and left me weak, utterly powerless, before His glory. When praying for Pentecost, sometimes we receive it and nothing is like it. Power comes to us not through any labor we have done, but by the power of the Holy Spirit. I have wept under the conviction of the Holy Spirit and laughed with great joy in the Lord. We are tempted to demand that God always give us His grace in this same way. We…
 
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    Seedlings in Stone

  • On, In, and Around Mondays: Room with A View

    L.L. Barkat
    30 Aug 2010 | 5:00 am
    It is Saturday. Writing day. Usually I am out on one of the porches, either looking towards hemlocks or the little herb garden where I have—amidst flowers—rosemary, sage and thyme. But today it is peach-yellow bedroom walls, antique carved wooden rocker, a pile of French children's books, and an eclipsed view of the river (trees in full leaf obscure it until winter).My chest hurts and, oddly, my legs. Yesterday I thought I would be better by today. Instead I feel like I must have run a marathon and my muscles have post-workout lactic acid buildup. I did not run a marathon. I am simply…

  • The Book I'm Not Writing, Rachel 2

    L.L. Barkat
    26 Aug 2010 | 5:00 am
    It is amazing how much time I spend thinking about a story I am not writing. It is even more amazing how anxious it makes me when I consider how lazy I am (a true novelist would perhaps look forward to figuring out such details as a story's time period and accompanying artifacts, would look forward to finding the answers to questions such as, "How do you, in fact, make a shoe?").I do not want to answer these questions or dig for the details I would need. I remind myself that it's okay. I am not writing this story.Still. This particular character has been hanging out in my head for a good…

  • Suddenly Tea is Solace and Story

    L.L. Barkat
    24 Aug 2010 | 6:00 pm
    I sat outside every day for a year. Most days, I brought nothing with me but a cup of tea. The tea was a way to measure my time. It was something to sort of do, while I sat and watched the trees. Though I carried my drink to the same spot each day, I didn't know green tea from red from black, except in obvious ways. Imagine. For a whole year I ignored what was in my hands. Of course, there is nothing wrong with that. I was there to enjoy the breeze, the zebra wasps, the crimson helicopter insects. I hadn't yet thought of considering my tea. Really, it was not just the year outdoors that I…

  • On, In and Around Mondays: Greensleeves, Green Tea, and a Circlet

    L.L. Barkat
    23 Aug 2010 | 5:00 am
    "Where's the stapler?" she asks.I answer with my usual reminder, "You guys used the stapler and never put it back. You'll have to find something else." I imagine the black stapler is cavorting with dust bunnies under my younger daughter's bed, along with The Magic Treehouse: Christmas in Camelot, which I tell the librarian we have lost but will find someday in the abyss.My daughter looks at the ceiling, frowns, and walks away.I am at the dining room table. Sunset-golden walls reflect morning light. I'm sipping a green tea I bought on the streets of Granada, Spain. It is called "Te de Carpi."…

  • The Book I'm Not Writing: Inheritance

    L.L. Barkat
    19 Aug 2010 | 5:00 am
    Isn't it freeing to simply play at writing? I think so. That's why I'm not writing a lot of books. You should not-write-a-lot-of-books too. In fact, at the end of this post, if you'd like to link up a brief piece of a story you aren't writing, that would be fun. :)This particular story I'm not writing had its beginning at a restaurant. I overheard a conversation and thought, "Oh yeah. Perfect." That was about 10 years ago. I have a lot of stories like this that I haven't been writing (just wait and see). Some of them I might follow a little more. Like last week's. Maybe I'll post a…
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    Simply Missional

  • The Stress of Travel

    admin
    30 Aug 2010 | 5:21 am
    It’s a cool morning in NW Arkansas, which is good for this Austinite. I always love visiting my friends here. They love Jesus, committed to the gospel and love the poor, including the orphan. Therefore, its encouraging to be here. And I love the project we’re working on. It’s going to be amazing, details soon! However, this morning I woke-up completely stressed. I was thinking of all the projects I need to work on, leaving here tomorrow to travel to Atlanta to speak, then I was thinking about next weeks trip to Haiti. Do I have all the details in place for that trip? Oh,…

  • Up, Up, and Away!

    admin
    19 Aug 2010 | 8:06 am
    Next week, school starts. I’m ready for that. Ready for kids to get back in rhythm, cooler weather to return, (unless you live in Austin) and more opportunities to serve orphans! However, that also means I’ll be in full-swing travel mode for the fall. I’ll be back in NW Arkansas with Charles Lee and Mike Rusch and bunch of other amazing friends next week. We’re doing some secret ops planning for some future projects! (okay, not secret but it sounds cool) Then, I leave from Arkansas and head straight to Atlanta to speak at Rock Bridge Church. I’ll be back in…

  • Road Trip

    admin
    8 Aug 2010 | 4:00 pm
    Getting ready to head out for a 10 day road trip. I wanted to make sure the Wordpress app for iPad worked. So, consider this a test

  • The Push

    admin
    2 Aug 2010 | 7:04 am
    Photo Credit: Scott Wade I feel like HELP is in ‘the push” right now. Here’s what I mean. For a longtime, we hoped, prayed, planned and dreamed, that God would use this organization to serve the global orphan. We had zero seed money to start, very little support and a team of people that were extremely busy and scattered, though very talented and passionate. There were moments when I though we would never make it, and no one would notice our story. There was so much white noise in the world, and so many amazing non-profits doing tremendous work. I wondered if we would get lost in the…

  • I’m Going to Fail

    admin
    30 Jul 2010 | 9:52 am
    Fear…stress…worry…anxiety…all hit me at once this morning at 4:30AM. I woke up scared…worried that HELP is going to fail, that WHNF is going to flop, that my kids are going to hate me because I sold our home to live in a two bedroom apartment, so we can continue running HELP. Yesterday, I kept hearing this voice in my soul, and I did not know why! Chris…I want you to give up more…your still holding on to the American Dream, your security is still connected to works and not faith. You’re not letting go! Over, and over, I kept hearing that, it was…
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    Strangely Dim

  • Defining the Relationship--An Editor's Perspective

    Dave Zimmerman
    2 Sep 2010 | 6:03 am
    "You don't expect your editor to become your friend." I was a little embarrassed, a little impressed with myself, when Adam Taylor (his book Mobilizing Hope is just back from the printer) mentioned that in passing to a group of...

  • Alter Calls

    Dave Zimmerman
    20 Aug 2010 | 8:41 am
    I'm pro-homophone. There. I said it. Homophones, for the uninitiated, are words that sound alike (and often spelled alike) but carry different meanings. The most obvious are words like their and there, yielding cute sentences like "I can count to two...

  • Words of Days

    Dave Zimmerman
    16 Aug 2010 | 12:56 am
    Every Wednesday afternoon, without fail, the IVP editorial department stops working at 3pm for a half hour of noshing on popcorn. Sometimes we talk about our work or our homelife or our new favorite books or movies. Sometimes we stare...

  • Summer Madlib

    Rebecca Larson
    11 Aug 2010 | 2:37 pm
    As some of you may know, I am a big fan of Madlibs, those silly games where you come up with words that match parts of speech and then fill them into a short story with hilarious results. One of...

  • Knowing What You Know (Part 3)

    Dave Zimmerman
    4 Aug 2010 | 1:51 pm
    This week we say goodbye to Deborah Gonzalez, our summer editorial intern. She's been a great help to us--not least in her willingness to write three posts for Strangely Dim. She's also offered a refreshing reminder about the difference between...
 
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    Tall Skinny Kiwi

  • A smooch and a free massage for our sponsors

    Andrew
    1 Sep 2010 | 11:00 pm
    So I woke up this morning to see someone on Twitter raising funds for Those Joneses and then I realized  . .  What the heck??? . .  Thats OUR family!!!!! What a surprise!!!And not only that, but the website was offering smooches and free massages and a week's vacation in Austin or Port Townsend. I thought it was hilarious and I read it out loud to my wife and kids and they laughed like crazy. But I still couldn't see who had put up this website and who was trying to raise money for our USA trip. But then on the very bottom I saw the two guerrilla fundraisers - Whitney…

  • We are coming to USA: Need your help!

    Andrew
    1 Sep 2010 | 2:09 am
    Big news! Our family is returning to USA for a coast to coast tour, starting late September in New York and going down, then westward through Texas, up to Oregon and down the West Coast.Why now? Well, it is kinda sudden, isn't it?  One of the biggest reasons is because we were denied a visa extension in UK and our time on the European mainland is limited to 3 months - which is over in a few weeks. We were hoping to drive over to India but the time is not right, esp. with the roads being washed out in Pakistan. So we will go back to USA for a bit.Also, we need to reestablish our kid's…

  • How Many People Attended the 'Restoring Honor' Rally?

    Andrew
    31 Aug 2010 | 9:44 pm
    Thousands of people gathering around a large vertical object to discuss plans of posterity. NO, I am not talking about the Tower of Babel. I'm talking about Glenn Beck's  Restoring Honor rally at Washington DC last weekend.The event was described as a "church picnic with a buzz" and the "Waterworld of white self-pity". The attendance figures are disputed but Newser website has a few estimates, ranging from 78,000 to 650,000. The latter suggested as the high end by Glenn Beck himself.Why are church people, even Mormon church people, so infatuated with numbers? And why do churches say they…

  • The People Formerly Known as the Congregation

    Andrew
    31 Aug 2010 | 9:03 pm
    A 2007 blog post from Bill Kinnon impacts one homeschooling mother who brings it back to life for the St Louis Post-Dispatch in a post entitled Giving Thanks for the Emerging Church. This quote from Bill's post, called The People Formerly Known as The Congregation, struck me as being powerful."We grew weary from your Edifice Complex pathologies – building projects more important than the people in your neighbourhood…or in your pews. It wasn’t God telling you to “enlarge the place of your tent” – it was your ego. And, by the way, a multi-million dollar, state of the art building is…

  • The Theology of Dr Seuss

    Andrew
    31 Aug 2010 | 5:20 am
    A blog post on The Sneetches made me think of Dr Seuss's books and the theology behind it. I left this comment on the blog:"I love Dr Seuss. The first sermon I ever preached at one of the churches I pastored [North Beach Baptist Church, Perth, West Australia] started with a reading from Green Eggs and Ham - it talked about the ability to try new things. Much theology in the Sneetches also, of course."Oh yeah and I spelled Seuss wrong in the title but have corrected it. Sorry.
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    The Lutheran

  • The times are changing

    31 Aug 2010 | 10:00 pm
    These are challenging times for our nation and the world, certainly for the congregations, synods and churchwide organization of the ELCA. The great recession took a toll still being counted. The Lutheran saw the economic dagger heading toward the ELCA in February 2009 when a record number of congregations dropped their subscriptions. Then that figure was eclipsed this past January. It's only in the last few months that the situation appears to be stabilizing.This financial churn landed upon the synods and churchwide organization in full force this year. Mission support from congregations…

  • Council trims churchwide budget by $4.2 million

    31 Aug 2010 | 10:00 pm
    After a two-hour conference call meeting held in executive session, the ELCA Church Council voted Aug. 4 in open session to cut the churchwide 2010 current fund spending authorization by 6 percent, from $69.3 million to $65.1 million. There was no discussion of the vote in open session, but ELCA Treasurer Christina Jackson-Skelton reported that through the end of June 2010 mission support was down $3.7 million (a 15.2 percent reduction) from the same period in 2009. The executive session was used to discuss background information on finances and personnel, plus an organizational design…

  • On assignment for God

    31 Aug 2010 | 10:00 pm
    12-year-old volunteers to stamp out malaria.

  • LCMS elects new leader, approves restructuring

    31 Aug 2010 | 10:00 pm
    Delegates of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod Convention elected a new president, approved a restructuring plan, voted to continue cooperative work with the ELCA, and requested that a church theology panel respond to the 2009 actions of the ELCA Churchwide Assembly related to human sexuality. Harrison At the July 10-17 meeting in Houston, Matthew C. Harrison, 48, executive director of LCMS World Relief and Human Care, was elected president on the first ballot, 643-527 over the incumbent, Gerald B. Kieschnick. Delegates voted to restructure the national offices from seven program…

  • Cuba's tiny Lutheran church

    31 Aug 2010 | 10:00 pm
    Members of the Florida-Bahamas Synod nurture a connection.
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    theologer

  • If you read only one article this week.

    Roger Mugs
    21 Aug 2010 | 10:49 pm
    Make it these two.THE PROBLEM WITH PASTOR AS ROCK STAR 10% CHRISTIAN LIVING Maybe you're aware of this website CatalystSpace.comI have not been. But I'm impressed thus far.

  • The ground zero mosque. And you.

    Roger Mugs
    19 Aug 2010 | 4:07 pm
    Apparently there is a lot of talk about what people have dubbed the "Ground Zero Mosque." Because I live outside of the United States I haven't heard much about it beyond what I get from my morning listening of the NPR news hourly podcast while shoveling yogurt and fruit into my 10 month-old's mouth. However recently I've been hearing a lot of strange opposition to the mosque being built and I wanted to chime in with my thoughts.First of all I should mention that a lot of my thoughts have come from this article. Apparently this guy Douglas Wilson is kind of a big deal but he was a little bit…

  • Life in a fallen world as a masquerade part - Paul Tripp

    Roger Mugs
    18 Aug 2010 | 12:21 am
    "Life in a fallen world is like attending the ultimate masquerade party. Impatient yelling wears the costume of a zeal for truth. Lust can masquerade as a love for beauty. Gossip does its evil work by living in the costume of concern and prayer. Craving for power and control wears the mask of biblical leadership. Fear of man gets dressed up as a servant heart. The pride of always being right masquerades as a love for biblical wisdom. Evil simply doesn't present itself as evil, which is part of its draw." - Paul Tripp from Whiter Than Snow: Meditations on Sin and Mercy (p.32) I'm impressed…

  • Missions, evangelism, and strategy.

    Roger Mugs
    11 Aug 2010 | 6:40 am
    I've read the study of missions is divided into two parts (I believe I've mentioned this before): 1. The study of missions history 2. The study of missions theoryBoth are fascinating to me. The first has become what I'm writing my masters thesis on. The second is my passion, my heartbeat, what I cant get out of my head. I think about the reasons we do mission, the way we do missions, the problems with missions, the way I can be a better missionary, what it will take to call others to missions, how to cast vision for missions etc... I think about it all day long - it's the top idea in my mind.

  • The utter filth of our sin. And how we gloss over it.

    Roger Mugs
    4 Aug 2010 | 12:43 am
    "I'll never know how much it cost to see my sins upon that cross." - Tim HughesOne of the great advantages of a lamb sacrifice for the average person was seeing the blood of the lamb pour down. Watching a lamb die by having it's throat cut, watching the blood spurt out of the side of the animal in beat with the heart until there was nothing left - this, I will argue, was good for man.One of the most common sins in the world (today as well as in history) is pride. I speak from experience. Four years ago I did a 40 day fast praying for the Lord to reveal to me three thigns. I prayed and prayed…
 
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    Think Christian

  • Self-Delusion and Church-Work in an Age of Mistrust

    Paul Vander Klay
    1 Sep 2010 | 7:46 am
    Anne Rice is of course not the only professed Christ follower bailing on the church or “organized religion”, some argue an entire generation is doing so. Could there be something “in the water”? 1. We live in a context of mistrust. C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity trying to exegete Jesus’ admonition to “love your neighbor as yourself” illuminates what it means to ‘love yourself”. C.S. Lewis suggests that this is really self-regard. When I do something wrong it’s a fluke. When someone else does something wrong it is a pattern. When I…

  • How Do You Define a Church?

    Bethany Keeley-Jonker
    30 Aug 2010 | 7:51 am
    A professor/blogger alerted me to a recent court decision denying tax-exempt status to a group called The Foundation for Human Understanding who did not meet the IRS definition of a church. The judge’s decision makes an argument that FHU members listening to a radio program together does not mean they associate together and gather for communal worship.  I don’t know enough about FHU or tax law to take a stand on whether or not this is a good ruling, but it does raise some interesting questions for me. First of all, it makes sense that the IRS would have a definition of a church, because…

  • Football and the Virtue of Tolerating Disappointment

    Todd Hertz
    25 Aug 2010 | 7:48 am
    As a Chicago Bears fan, it pains me to admit that one rival Green Bay Packer has inspired me to think. Recently, ESPN the Magazine rana fascinating profile of Aaron Rodgers that focused on the quarterback’s “scars of disappointment.” Though now one of the NFL’s most widely respected starters, Rodgers did not have a smooth, painless path getting there. He was not recruited by Division 1 colleges and, instead, played his freshman year at a junior college. In the NFL draft, some analysts predicted he’d go number one. He was chosen with the 24th pick. Once in the NFL, he waited in the…

  • Quick Thought: Should Churches Get BP Payouts

    Jerod Clark
    23 Aug 2010 | 11:31 am
    Matthew Paul Turner pointed us to a MSNBC story about a Louisiana church who applied for a cash payout from BP over of the loss of tithing because of the Gulf Coast oil spill.  Pastor Dan Crown or Anchor Assembly of God is asking for $50,000. The article said: Shrimpers and oystermen left jobless by the oil spill in this seafood town can barely afford to feed their families and pay their boat loans, much less give money to their church, Brown said. Giving and tithing is down by $12,000 over the last few weeks, he said, and the oil spill will cost another $38,000 in lost revenues over the…

  • Moral Reckoning on ‘Mad Men’

    Josh Larsen
    19 Aug 2010 | 5:34 am
    How do I know that “Mad Men” has reached a new level of artistic maturity in its fourth season? I no longer want to have a drink while watching it. From the start, this AMC cable series about an advertising agency in 1960s Manhattan has been lubricated by alcohol. Swanky drinking has been omnipresent, from the three martini lunches to the fully stocked bars in each executive’s office. Whenever one guy stops by another’s desk, they instinctively pour each other a drink. Although the show has occasionally nodded to the dark side of this behavior – in season two, copywriter Freddy…
 
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    Doorkeeper's Journal

  • John Mark McMillan's "The Medicine" Album Review

    Craig
    31 Aug 2010 | 7:13 am
    It has been a while since I have done an album review. This is a particular favorite of mine. I am just getting acquainted with John Mark McMillan's music since hearing some of his music earlier this year. You might not think you know who he is, but you probably have heard some of his songs before. The most obvious one would be "How He Loves", which was recorded on the Church Music album by the David Crowder Band.John Mark's album starts off with "Reckoning Day" which is a call asking everyone if they would come alive and get out of bed for the sound of the song unsung...it asks us to wake up…

  • Is Suffering Optional???

    Craig
    30 Aug 2010 | 11:52 am
    I know that it's not the most popular subject in Christian circles, but one that I feel should be discussed! I am not sure about your walk with the Lord, but from time to time, I tend to get "comfortable" and expect nothing uncomfortable to happen to my little world. But, we have been promised otherwise...remember that our adversary walks around like a roaring lion seeking who he may devour...and that doesn't sound comfortable in any translation!!!Anyway, when struggles come about, I tend to want to throw my hands up and just give up...is it just me? But, last night while watching a podcast…

  • Can We Show Some Compassion???

    Craig
    27 Aug 2010 | 12:19 pm
    I have some quotes on compassion I have come across the past few days that I thought would fall in place with what has been weighing heavily upon my heart. My heart is burdened to feel for those who don't know the Lord. I want to see them as the Lord does...lost and needing a helping hand to lead them to the one true Light!!!"Compassion will cure more sins than condemnation." -Henry Ward BeecherThis quote speaks to me in the vein that if we are showing compassion, we are likely to be able to reach sinners where they are. Too often, we are caught condemning the sin, rather than loving the…

  • Loving God...But Are We Loving Others???

    Craig
    26 Aug 2010 | 7:34 am
    This evening, our Collegiate class study was focused on a couple of the Nooma series videos by Rob Bell. The one that has been stuck in my head is the one entitled Bullhorn. The thought I am hit by is that we are called to love God and also to love others, right? In Matthew 22:36-40, we find them asking Jesus..."Master, which is the great commandment in the law? (37) Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. (38) This is the first and great commandment. (39) And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy…

  • Set Apart or Blending In???

    Craig
    16 Aug 2010 | 6:45 am
    As I got home this evening from church, I continued to focus on the first point of Caleb's message tonight...being sanctified. The definition of sanctified reads like this...(1) to set apart to a sacred purpose or to religious use (2) to free from sin (3)(a) to impart or impute sacredness, inviolability, or respect to (b) to give moral or social sanction to. We are called to be set apart, free from sin...and to be sanctioned, both morally and socially. Being sanctioned socially would mean that we are noticed to be different, right?As I was thinking and praying on this I came across a great…
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    Life on Life

  • The Best Content on the Web!

    1 Sep 2010 | 4:44 pm
    One of the things that led me to accept an editor's role at ChurchLeaders.com was the fact that I knew I would be able to help resource leaders and point them to the best content on the web.The problem is that I'm not capable of finding everything that is worthy of placement on our site... and that is where YOU come in.I would like your help in finding great content. If you run across a blog post, video, news article or how-to post that you feel might benefit other youth workers would you please send them my way? If we use what you send us we'll be sure to give you credit.If you haven't…

  • Manic Monday Minute

    30 Aug 2010 | 11:52 pm
    Manic Monday Minute is a serious mind-dump that will probably take you one minute to read. Here are some thoughts going through my head right now...This is the Manic Monday Minute...Spoke in Southwest Virginia this past weekend.It was a short stint in the mountains but a good one.I met a young man who was booked to sing in the weekend services. I thought his voice was a dead-ringer for Josh Groban. I asked him to sing "You Raise Me Up..." He nailed it!Our family has been celebrating the end of my mother's cancer treatments. However, mom has been battling an infection over the last week.

  • Best 6-Year-Old Storyteller Ever!

    24 Aug 2010 | 12:11 pm
    Mary Margaret is only 6 years old... and tells the story of Jonah. This video has only been viewed about 750 times online but its about to explode! I may just book her for my next event... what you think?RSS Subscribers: there is video [here]via @LeslieNease

  • Manic Monday Minute

    23 Aug 2010 | 7:30 pm
    Manic Monday Minute is a serious mind-dump that will probably take you one minute to read. Here are some thoughts going through my head right now...Welcome back to the Manic Monday Minute...Had a VERY busy weekend. Our church had a three-day event for our community.I spoke in the weekend services. Spoke on the the faith of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Loved putting together that message.We had a TON of first time guests in our services this weekend.Getting settled into my new role this week at ChurchLeaders.com.Have you checked out the site yet?Someone else told me that they…

  • I'm Joining the Team @ ChurchLeaders.com

    20 Aug 2010 | 7:30 am
    It's official.I've been asked to join the amazing team at ChurchLeaders.com.Just days ago I told you about the new site for church leaders, and after several weeks of conversations & prayer with the management team I've been hired as the very first channel editor.My role at ChurchLeaders.com will be giving oversight to the Youth Ministry channel and I'll be working along with the amazing senior editorial team to help deliver the best content on the web to you. I am deeply honored (and humbled) and couldn't be happier about this new opportunity.My passion for helping resource &…
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    Deep Thoughts by Gman

  • Top Ten Things for Emergency Purposes in Ministry

    2 Sep 2010 | 6:57 am
    10. Batteries: Extra batteries for that remote, clicker, wireless microphone. Invest in a recharger as well. 9. Flash drive or backup plan for your computer. Backup all your files. Daily. Do it. Invest in a flash drive to never lose those pictures, files etc. 8. AAA. It is not if your vehicle or the Church van breaks down but when. Roadside assistance and towing comes in handy. 7. First Aid kit. Always have one nearby. Cuts, bruises, and blood aren’t easy to deal with without one. 6. Back-up lessons, sermons. What happens when the teacher is late or is sick at the last minute? Have an…

  • Three things needed for a Quiet Time

    31 Aug 2010 | 9:50 pm
    I. You need a purpose. The purpose is to spend more time knowing God and communicating with Him. II. You’ll need a place. Pick a place where there will be few distractions. Where there is lots of light for reading, reflecting, and writing your thoughts done. A quiet peaceful place so you can concentrate. III. You’ll need a plan. Pick a Bible reading plan that fits you. If you want to read the Bible in a year – go ahead. Maybe pick out a 30 day plan. There are lots of websites, and books out there to help with your devotional time. The Big thing is to do it. I usually suggest starting…

  • Hagerstown, MD God of this City

    31 Aug 2010 | 8:55 am
    http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/ZioO

  • How to Recruit Volunteers.

    31 Aug 2010 | 6:49 am
    As our church is looking to re-focus on our own children’s ministry. Here is some suggestions for volunteers. I. Enlist volunteers. See who is available. You don’t want just a warm body, but you do need people. So what are the qualifications? Here are some we use: A. Been a Christian for over 1 year. B. Been part of our church body for a year. C. Love God. D. Love children. E. If teaching must have ability to teach. (Sometimes we put people in a teaching role that is in the wrong seat on the wrong bus and has a spiritual gift to be used elsewhere) II. Encourage Volunteers. Celebrate what…

  • Top Ten Stupid Mistakes I’ve made in Youth Ministry

    31 Aug 2010 | 6:43 am
    Inspired by Marko's post Here are some I've made. 10. Church van. Speeding, minor dents … just doesn’t do justice to tell your leaders – the van is broken. There was one time I didn’t check the tires and we had a blowout while coming home from King’s Dominion. Safety is the key to the van. My last ministry – I made sure to have the van prepared before leaving on a trip. Getting the van stuck in a ditch wasn't fun either. 9. Poor Communication. I really think when I first got into youth ministry – I knew it all. I didn’t use the parents, or meet with them enough. Sometimes if I…
 
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    TechPastor.net

  • Don’t Miss The Nines

    frank
    2 Sep 2010 | 10:17 am
    The Nines is a totally online leadership conference where you will hear from over 100 ministry leaders (Perry Noble, Francis Chan,  Pete Wilson, Ed Stetzer, and more) from around the country right from your computer!  These leaders have been asked to take 6 minutes to share the biggest game changer they’ve ever experienced.  Our staff here at Hope Summit will be spending the day using the speakers as springboards for ministry discussion.  The event will start on September 9th at 11:30 Eastern 10:30 Central and is completely FREE!  Here is a sneak peak: In order to get the feed to…

  • Northern Minnesota Fun

    frank
    25 Aug 2010 | 2:13 pm
    We had some family fun with friends from church this week in Northern Minnesota at a beatiful camp called “Pine Haven Christian Assembly.  Here are some photos of our time up at the lake… Camp Entrance This place is beautiful! Having a great time. Fun with friends at The Dorcet House in Dorcet, Minnesota Turtle Sundae Time to make the donuts! Awesome root beer at the Minnesoda Fountain! Men... Need... Cake... Pizza Burgers... MMMmmmmmm... Boating with Brad and Julie Michael driving AJ driving Awesome view... More good times... Guys solving all the world's problems A BIG…

  • Don’t Wait For Inspiration

    frank
    21 Aug 2010 | 8:58 pm
    Yep that’s right, don’t wait for inspiration – GO FIND IT!  As a pastor Sunday keeps on coming and every week, those of us that preach, we have to deliver.  Some weeks are easier than others because there are topics I find more interesting, issues that I’m more passionate about, or things that I’ve spoken about in the past that I find helpful. However, there are times when I think any human being feels empty.  Not that God isn’t with you, not doubting your faith, but just creatively empty or spent.  Seth Godin recently wrote on the topic of inspiration…

  • A Worship Pastor’s Dilemma

    frank
    16 Aug 2010 | 8:31 pm
    Does any of this sound familiar? ”Not enough Hymns today…whoa too many Hymns…too long…too short…didn’t like all the new stuff…are we ever going to do anything new…why are the same people up there all the time…who are all the new people…too loud…could be louder…don’t like the drums…why didn’t you have a band today…more guitars please…why not just an organ and piano…don’t you dare bring that organ back…why do the new songs repeat so much…why do the old songs seem impersonal…that’s not a Hymn…that’s so 1990′s…I don’t get it…I don’t like…

  • Swagger Wagon Church

    frank
    14 Aug 2010 | 9:18 pm
    I don’t know how in the world I missed this party this summer. Toyota dropped this video on YouTube in May and I just saw it for the first time tonight. The commercial brings a little fun to the minivan and some stressful parenting issues. I like to think we can do something similar with church. Joy is something we see as a consistent theme throughout scripture. Even when we suffer, when life is throwing challenges our way, and when we find ourselves facing mountains we fear we cannot climb… God wants us to be filled with joy. The video pokes fun at the stuff that makes parents…
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    Digging the Word

  • Fear Not

    Rick Morgan
    2 Sep 2010 | 5:25 am
    Stop worrying about it!  Matthew 10:28-31  "Don't be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.  29  What is the price of two sparrows--one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.  30  And the very hairs on your head are all numbered.  31  So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. Luke 12:4-5  "Dear friends, don't be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they…

  • Be Wise As Serpents And Harmless As Doves

    Rick Morgan
    31 Aug 2010 | 5:38 am
    Watch out for the wolves! Matthew 10:16  "Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves. Ephesians 5:15  So be careful how you live. Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise. Colossians 4:5  Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.The world is not a safe place for your soul, you better watch out for the intense warfare out there for those that want less than the best for your eternal destiny. The world is full of the devil's people that are ready to persuade you…

  • Pray For Laborers

    Rick Morgan
    27 Aug 2010 | 6:21 am
    Help wanted - Awesome benefits package, great long term care.  Matthew 9:35-38   Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”…

  • Beware Of False Prophets And Teachers

    Rick Morgan
    25 Aug 2010 | 3:25 am
     They are headed for destruction and the want to take you with them.  Matthew 7:15, 22-23  "Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.  22  On judgment day many will say to Me, 'Lord! Lord! We prophesied in Your name and cast out demons in Your name and performed many miracles in Your name.'  23  But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Get away from Me, you who break God's laws.' Mark 12:38-40  Jesus also taught: "Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes and…

  • Choose The Narrow Way

    Rick Morgan
    20 Aug 2010 | 8:06 am
    There aren't very many people on this path.  Matthew 7:13-14  "You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.  14  But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. Jeremiah 6:16  This is what the LORD says: "Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, 'No, that's not the road we want!'The path that has the least least…
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    Reflections

  • Journey of starting a new ministry - week 6

    27 Aug 2010 | 4:55 am
    (Over the next few months, maybe longer, I will be writing weekly posts on my journey of starting a new youth ministry position. The focus will be on general tips and suggestions for any youth minister starting a new position, but I will add-in moments specific to my situation. My goal is to offer advice to help other youth ministers and not write an online journal of my own personal experiences. In order to make this series of articles as beneficial as I can, I would appreciate your feedback and thoughts. And remember as you read about my journey in a new youth ministry that every situation…

  • Every Youth Worker Needs: Supportive Leadership

    24 Aug 2010 | 5:46 am
    (Youth ministry is not an easy ministry. And in this series, Every Youth Worker Needs:..., I want to highlight a variety of things that might make your ministry a little easier. This ongoing series will include ministry tips, book suggestions, technology helps, and many other nuggets of advice.) Being a lead youth worker, paid or volunteer, is a very demanding position. You have to make many decisions every day, some that will affect the students for years to come. Sometimes, you do not get time to think about what you need to do, you just have to act. Other times, you have several days, at…

  • Journey of Starting a New Ministry - month 1 (2 of 2)

    17 Aug 2010 | 6:01 am
    You might want to read part 1 first, if you haven't already. The first month of a new ministry is very important. It is important for both you and the congregation. During this first month, you will be developing habits and routines which you will continue to use for a long time. You are beginning to set the precedent for what people can expect from you. The congregation will use these first four weeks to watch how you interact and listen to how you present yourself. The are interested in what you will bring to the ministry. Most of these people, even some of those who met you prior to being…

  • Journey of Starting a New Ministry - month 1 (1 of 2)

    13 Aug 2010 | 4:04 am
    The first month of a new ministry is very important. It is important for both you and the congregation. During this first month, you will be developing habits and routines which you will continue to use for a long time. You are beginning to set the precedent for what people can expect from you. The congregation will use these first four weeks to watch how you interact and listen to how you present yourself. The are interested in what you will bring to the ministry. Most of these people, even some of those who met you prior to being hired, have not had much time to meet you and ask you…

  • Teaching Tips: #1 Silence is Okay

    12 Aug 2010 | 8:57 am
    Teaching Tip #1 - Silence is Okay     I was fresh out of Bible college, in my first youth ministry, sitting on a couch teaching high school students. I had spent hours preparing this lesson, studying the Bible, and crafting great questions to get the students talking. As I sat there going through my lesson notes, there was only one thing wrong: no one was answering. I was beginning to wonder what I had done wrong. Maybe my questions were too difficult or unclear. Maybe the students didn’t like me. As I thought through my concerns, all I could hear from them was silence. So I just…
 
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    Human3rror

  • New iPhone Background

    John
    2 Sep 2010 | 7:42 am
    It’s so awesome looking! Want a copy of this wicked background? Get it here.

  • September 2010 Desktop Backgrounds

    John
    1 Sep 2010 | 6:28 pm
    That’s what I’m rocking this month. Thanks again SM. What are you sportin’? On a sidenote, August seemed to be very slow for me – took forever to be get done with. Just me?

  • Cutest Chun Li EVER

    John
    31 Aug 2010 | 7:14 pm

  • Mastering a Tape Measure

    John
    31 Aug 2010 | 3:16 pm
    I wonder how long this took to master.

  • Elmo

    John
    30 Aug 2010 | 8:05 pm
    Elmo still freaks me out… but kids seem to love him. Consider me confused.
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    KRELLFISH

  • Condos Gone Tiled

    Audra Krell
    30 Aug 2010 | 4:00 pm
    Here is the kitchen in our one bedroom Scottsdale condo. We have two for rent, both are one bedroom, one is furnished. This is the perfect writer's getaway. A tropical resort community with lush palms swaying in the breeze and great neighbors. A place where you'll easily read or write the next great American novel. Plus, we could meet at Starbucks on your break and discuss all things books! Get out of that soon- to- be snowy state and come on down where it's always warm. We'll leave the sun out for ya. For more pictures and information visit Franks on Shea.

  • Dull Scissors Talk

    Audra Krell
    23 Aug 2010 | 3:50 pm
    I dreaded the start of school, because our oldest is a senior. During the last weeks of summer, he began to frustrate me with his choices. I asked my husband what our son was doing and he said he was asserting his independence. He was getting ready to move on."What? He can probably get ready to move on the night before he leaves for college." I said.My husband gave me a half smile and shook his head, knowing there was no reasoning with me.I thought about it and decided it was time for the talk. No not the talk, the old dull scissors talk.So I caught him alone one afternoon and kept…

  • Office Dress for Success

    Audra Krell
    15 Aug 2010 | 3:21 pm
    I'm a big believer in dressing for success while working from home. If you sit around in your pajamas, you will produce sleepy, sloppy, lackadaisical work. I'm often quoted in this area, the latest was last week HERE, in Carol Roth's 95 Strategies for Work/Life Balance When You Work from Home. I'm under number 88.Then this great article by Kevin Whipps got me thinking even more. If I worked in a traditional office building, I would never keep my office in the atrocious state it lives in. Five years ago we put in wood floors, a big cherry desk, ample shelves,some with…

  • Back to School Survival

    Audra Krell
    13 Aug 2010 | 3:07 pm
    Well I made it. Monday marked the start of school for the 3 boys. We now have a senior, freshman and freshman in middle school as he likes to call himself. The emotions of "all things back to school" can take their toll, so I have made a handy acrostic to help you survive the start of school. Starbucks: Right after the little cherubs are safely at school, hit Starbucks or the like. You will be in desperate need of the ever popular stimulant and its positive effects. Caffeine has been proven to increase attentiveness. You'll want to be awake to watch your chick flicks, read…

  • Sweat, Blood & Tears

    Audra Krell
    26 Jul 2010 | 3:47 pm
    This book is a coming-of-age story about how God raises a man. John Eldredge, author of Wild at Heart says every man who still feels young inside should read Sweat, Blood and Tears. After reading this and enjoying it tremendously, I believe every woman who loves her men should also read it. As the mother of three young men and wife to an amazing man, it's important to me that I learn what they need for their journey toward becoming men and being a man. I know that men become men in the presence of other men only, I'm clear that I don't and can't make anyone a man. It is…
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    Paper Bridges

  • Remembering Indonesia: part 2

    Monica Brand
    25 Aug 2010 | 8:51 am
    This week I’m republishing articles originally with Relief Journal. The memories of Ujung Pandang, Indonesia continue: I wrote it all down Write in my journal, that’s the first thing I want to do. Leaving home and all things familiar, bound for exotic Indonesia, I can’t wait to get words onto the page. After I stow my first laptop underneath the airplane seat, I open a new blank book. The date: June 1996. As the plane lifts off the Newark airport runway, only then do I finally stop to look out the window. That’s what we do as writers, isn’t it? We write down as…

  • Remembering Indonesia

    Monica Brand
    23 Aug 2010 | 7:12 am
    Due to the release of the film version of Elizabeth Gilbert’s memoir Eat, Pray, Love, I decided to re-publish several posts originally on the Relief Journal blog. I hope you enjoy them. The dark-eyed toddler clutched the mango, squatting barefoot on the counter top next to a basket of fruit. She stared at me, unblinking, her eyes wide. I smiled at her. I knew it wasn’t everyday an American woman like me walked into the market of this remote mountain village in Indonesia. Before I traded my Miss for a Mrs., I traveled to the other side of the world to teach English in a private…

  • Book Tour: Good Girls Don’t Have to Dress Bad

    Monica Brand
    19 Aug 2010 | 8:05 pm
    Good Girls Don’t Have to Dress Bad (A Style Guide for Every Woman) by Shari Braendel reads like the Christian woman’s answer to “What Not to Wear,” the popular fashion advice show on TLC. From the back cover: Shari Braendel teaches you how to accept and appreciate the body God gave you and how to always look your best. You will discover: Your specific body type and color group The exact pieces you need in your closet to build your spring/summer and fall/winter wardrobes Anti-aging tricks, makeup and skincare techniques Shari’s trademark Shopping Guide and 5 Bs of…

  • Blog Hop for Hip Homeschoolers

    Monica Brand
    17 Aug 2010 | 1:01 pm
    Welcome, Hip Homeschoolers, I’m glad you’re here. If you have never been to my blog before, let me give you the five-second tour. I mostly write about books and reading. Books capturing my imagination, books that make me think, books that move me to action. Books I love. I also blog about the books my children read and the titles that find their way into our days. I occasionally offer my opinion as to books I believe are better left on the shelf, rather than in your child’s hands. Hey, I’m a homeschool mom. We are known for our strong opinions, right? My homeschooling…

  • What to read instead of Eat, Pray, Love: travelogues by women

    Monica Brand
    16 Aug 2010 | 10:42 am
    If you are interested in reading about women traveling the world and living overseas, but want to skip the spiritual elements presented in Eat, Pray, Love (One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia), try these books. The archived blog posts give more information. Reading Lolita in Tehran (A Memoir in Books) by Azar Nafisi The Bookseller of Kabul by Åsne Seierstad Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez (archived blog post) A Year in the World (Journeys of a Passionate Traveler) by Francis Mayes (archived blog post) Tales of a Female Nomad (Living at Large in…
 
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    Thinking Out Loud

  • Taking it to the Streets

    paulthinkingoutloud
    2 Sep 2010 | 7:43 am
    This is actually the third time this particular post has appeared here.   I never get tired of the quotation that forms the centerpiece of this… … Several years ago, a long-time customer came into our bookstore and brought with her a new purpose and a new motto for our business, “marketplace ministry.” It was a fresh vision and a reminder that we should try to be more present in the public square, in civic life, and less dependent on churches which so often let us down. The phrase “marketplace ministry” also reminded me of this quotation: “I simply argue that the cross…

  • Wednesday Link List

    paulthinkingoutloud
    1 Sep 2010 | 3:11 am
    The August Bank Holiday brought U.K. Christians to Cheltenham for the annual Greenbelt Festival Welcome to September!   Here’s where the three w’s took us this week: CNN has an interesting piece about Kenda Creasy Dean, author of Almost Christian, a book about ‘professing’ teen Christians whose faith the author views as “mutant Christianity.”   Read more. David Fitch looks at the “ritualized” activity we call “going to church;” and thinks the “going” should be more connected to everyday life.   More at Reclaiming…

  • Church Fall Season Kickoff

    paulthinkingoutloud
    31 Aug 2010 | 5:30 am
    As another season of ministry begins in many of our local churches, I want to repeat a piece I ran here in April ’09; which is actually a pre-Easter article that Pete Wilson wrote which I’ve adapted into a non-seasonal piece.    It seems fitting to remind ourselves of these priorities as the heat of summer gives way to regrouping our forces with a fresh intensity… Like many of you I’m up to my eyeballs in the details and logistics …  I’m distracted, maybe a little stressed and certainly carrying all kind of concerns. But I just want to issue this challenge to all…

  • Christians are Judged by the Highest Standard

    paulthinkingoutloud
    30 Aug 2010 | 8:58 am
    I’m sorry.   Maybe I should have named this blog Ranting Out Loud. But telling Mark’s story yesterday reminded me of Sherry’s story and I find I can’t not record it here online for someone to learn from.   Of course names have been changed. East Grove Neighborhood Church was serious about church growth.   The new building was the pride and joy of everyone but especially Ron and Yvonne.   Ron was on every committee and every board.    Ron’s contracting company had worked hard to bring the new state-of-the-art auditorium project to completion on time, and…

  • Sunday Seriousness

    paulthinkingoutloud
    29 Aug 2010 | 1:05 pm
    This morning we visited the Pentecostal church in our community.  The week before it was a Catholic church.   Two weeks ago we attended the Christian Reformed Church. We know people in all these churches.   I could walk up and down each aisle and probably get about half the names right in most of our area churches, including the much larger Baptist church.    Part of it is that through my vocation, I get to interact with the larger Body of Christ.   So I feel that these people are family; I never really feel like a visitor. But this morning I realized that in truth, these people are…
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    Just A Thought

  • Admission vs. Confession

    2 Sep 2010 | 7:00 am
    While reading Anne Jackson's latest book, Permission to Speak Freely, she mentioned that there was a difference between admission and confession.That got me thinking....so, I looked up admission and confession in a dictionary. This is what I found:Admission: acknowledgment that a fact or statement is trueConfession: a written or oral acknowledgment of guilt by a party accused of an offense There

  • Messy Faith - Just A Thought #45

    1 Sep 2010 | 7:00 am
    When I became a Christian a week before turning 14, the church I went to made faith sound very easy. It was all about what you do:1. Read your Bible everyday.2. Pray every day3. Go to church.3 was easy, 2 happened because of guilt and 1 didn't last long. No one told me where to read and once I got into Leviticus and Numbers I was done....I put my Bible down for a long time...which increased my

  • Authentic Worship

    30 Aug 2010 | 7:00 am
    Say what you will about King David, the man knew how to worship. Though not all the Psalms were written by him, you can hear his passion, his joy and his real struggles as he pours his heart out before the Holy Maker of the Universe.He got so caught up in worship at one point he became a bit undignified in the eyes of his wife. (2 Samuel 6:14-23) Somehow I can't see this happening on a Sunday

  • The Temptation of Christ

    27 Aug 2010 | 7:00 am
    OK....I'll let you in on another pastoral secret:PASTORS ARE NOT PERFECT! I will be the first to admit I have some struggles. Two things I have struggled with over the years is reading the Bible in dry times and consistent prayer.I was sharing this with my friend and fellow pastor from Main Street Christian Fellowship. I was planning on talking about the struggles and how God can still meet our

  • My Theme Song!

    24 Aug 2010 | 7:00 am
    My favorite Bible verse is Gal. 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."Ever since I found my identity in Christ this has become my life verse.Now I have found my theme song:I am a dead man walking.Wow.That really sums up how I
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    InsideWork

  • 33: The Talent Fantasy

    Dan Wooldridge
    23 Aug 2010 | 12:14 am
    Matthew Syed Bounce – Mozart, Federer, Picasso, Beckham and the Science of Success , (p. 142), HarperCollins, 2010 Enron recruited big talent, mostly people with fancy degrees, which is not in itself bad. It paid them big money, which is not terrible. But by putting complete faith in talent, Enron did a fatal thing; it created a culture that worshipped talent, thereby forcing its employees to look and act extraordinarily talented. Basically, it forced them into the fixed mindset. And we know a lot about that. We know that people with the fixed mindset do not admit and correct their…

  • 32: Hiring

    Dan Wooldridge
    16 Aug 2010 | 12:13 am
    Bradford D. Smart, Ph.D. Topgrading – How Leading Companies Win by Hiring, Coaching and Keeping the Best People , (p. 79), Prentice Hall, Inc., 2005 You, the hiring manager, meet the candidates, perhaps for lunch, explain what the job needs are, ask a few questions about their experience and interests, sell the job a bit, and respond to questions. If it looks like a mutual “go” for one or more finalists, your assistant organizes a day of interviews with some key members of your team. Current practice for “organizing” the interview sequence is like a fourth-grade…

  • Success to Significance? Not A Message for Future Generations

    Bernard Moon
    13 Aug 2010 | 12:01 am
    Last week I was speaking with someone about the concept of “success to significance” and its associated terms.  I was asked how I defined “success” within this idea.  I thought about it and gave a long pause.  I could only imagine if my wife was there and telling me to just give a simple answer or some of my friends telling me not to overanalyze and not to be a rabble-rouser. I finally replied, “Sorry, I just don’t think within such a framework.  Maybe I would say it’s more about influence and impact.” After this afternoon chat, where we touched upon other topics, I came…

  • 31: Simple Essence

    Dan Wooldridge
    2 Aug 2010 | 12:14 am
    Peter Arnell Shift – How to reinvent your business, your career, and your personal brand , (p. 32), Broadway Books, 2010 You have to find the inner truth about the message of your product. To gain the loyalty and trust of consumers, your message — conveyed through advertising or marketing — has to be authentic. It has to be simple and boiled down to its essence. This is especially important in a marketplace where dozens of different brands for the same product are competing for attention. II Corinthians 11:3 New American Standard Bible But I am afraid that, as the serpent…

  • 10 Ways to Make the Office More Personal

    Glenn McMahan
    26 Jul 2010 | 8:07 am
    Work is hard enough, but what often makes work so arduous is the lack of healthy relationships in the office. Moreover, the growth of virtual relationships often leaves people without many true friendships. Add to that the fact that most people today spend about 10 hours a day at work, which means that they might interact with fellow professionals in the office more than friends and family at home. So why not make an effort to make these workplace relationships more personal and more fulfilling? If you look at the Scriptures, you will find many principles and tangible examples for making life…
 
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    Take Root and Write

  • The Time Line

    Cathey Stott
    1 Sep 2010 | 3:32 pm
    This is suppose to be a surprise for my dad, so don't tell him. I am creating a genealogical chart of his ancestors with stories and pictures I've found during a research project; I plan to present it to him at Christmas. I am blessed to have a copy of my grandmother's family Bible in which she recorded births, marriages, and deaths. It must have been exciting to record each birth and marriage because they are happy events. Then I considered how sad it must have been to record the deaths. I wondered if Grandma cried when she wrote the date of her own husband's death. Yet,…

  • I Am In Control

    Lindy Abbott
    29 Aug 2010 | 9:30 pm
    Dear Child,It can be humbling to learn the world doesn't need you to function. While you are significant and so important to Me, you need to understand that I am in control. Nothing happens without My knowledge. Nothing affects you unless it first is filters through My hands of all-knowing love.You will never be able to change the direction I blow the wind, or set the time I rise the sun or determine the colors I choose to place in the sky. So much of your life is totally out of your control. It is beyond your human capacity to do what I alone can do. You are not Me, not God, nor will…

  • An Invitation to Dine

    Pam Butler
    23 Aug 2010 | 9:30 pm
    "Behold I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me (Revelation 3:20 NASB). This is a strikingly symbolic painting of Christ knocking on a wooden door with no latch on the outside. This work of art reveals a stirring picture of God's love as He pursues us even still; opening the door for the purpose of an intimate relationship is ours alone being that the latch is on the inside. The act of knocking on the door implies that God desires admittance and that he recognizes the right of the…

  • Tithing New Testament Style II

    Meredith Curtis
    23 Aug 2010 | 9:20 pm
    "You look great!" Sally gushed. "You look so happy! What is going on in your life?" "The Lord has been so good to us! Listen to what He did. . ." Anne related a testimony of God's supernatural provision.Sally listened and smiled. "We just started tithing six months ago and it's changed everything for us.  Not just financially." Anne continued to share with Sally how Christ was changing her life and her husband's life. Tithing is an act of discipline and worship for the believer in Jesus. We talked last time about tithing in Tithing New…

  • I Am The Cause

    Lindy Abbott
    22 Aug 2010 | 9:30 pm
    Dear Child, See how brightly the sun shines in the sky. I am the cause. Watch how the ocean reflects its light back up to Me. Every time you come Me, I long to freshly fill your spirit enabling you to shine brightly. Reflecting My love, you shine for all to see Me. I am the cause of your smile, the reason for your peace, the purpose for your day, the acceptance of your soul and the beauty of your outlook on life. Life originated with Me, spoken forth in My Word, materialized in physical existence. I am the cause of everything that exists; without Me nothing would be.The needs of the world…
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    Eric Bryant - Blog

  • Peace can protect us…

    Eric Bryant
    2 Sep 2010 | 6:28 am
    Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” When have you found peace when it didn’t seem possible?

  • The End of the Iraq War (A Lesson for the Church)

    Eric Bryant
    1 Sep 2010 | 10:52 am
    In light of the US troop withdrawal and the end of combat in Iraq, I wanted to re-post lessons learned when we began turning the tide towards progress in 2007 after several really challenging years.  Much still needs to be done, but our troops are serving effectively. A friend of mine I haven’t talked to in about 10 years recently sent me an email from Iraq. After we knew each other in Seattle, he joined the military and now flies blackhawk helicopters. I cannot imagine the courage it takes to serve so faithfully and sacrificially! We are grateful for his service along with the rest of our…

  • Perfect Peace…

    Eric Bryant
    1 Sep 2010 | 6:20 am
    Isaiah 26:3 writes to God: “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” What are ways you have found peace through your relationship with God?

  • “Little Big Men” Tonight!

    Eric Bryant
    31 Aug 2010 | 10:40 am
    I received the following email from a friend of mine from our days in Seattle. Perry Travis (pictured in the background facing the camera) has been working with teenagers for years, but well before then he was part of the 1982 Little League World Series. Check this out: “Below is information on the Premier Viewing Night of a documentary that Red Line Films and ESPN did on our Kirkland National 1982 LL World Series team. The team will be at a Sports Restaurant holding a silent auction in Seattle to raise money for disadvantaged little leaguers (4pm Sports Restaurant & Bar 140 4th Ave…

  • Mixing mercy and fear…

    Eric Bryant
    31 Aug 2010 | 6:22 am
    Jesus’ half-brother wrote in Jude 1:22-23: “Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear–hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.” How can we show mercy and even rescue people who are making bad choices?
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    Faith Journey

  • No Longer Slaves

    Paul
    18 Aug 2010 | 4:02 pm
    Galatians 4:4-7 “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.” Here is a sermon I recently gave on this passage and on how God wants to be our Abba Father Download audio file (No Longer Slaves.mp3) Here are my notes: Sermon 8-15-2010…

  • Set your hearts and minds

    Paul
    4 Aug 2010 | 8:56 am
    …set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. In the first part of verse 1 we are reminded of the foundation of the spiritual life – that we have been raised with Christ. Now, the Apostle Paul begins to teach us how we are to live in this new way of life (because remember salvation is not just about waiting for heaven one day, it is about living in God’s kingdom here and now!). We begin by “setting” our hearts and minds on different things. Several translations use the…

  • We have been raised with Christ…

    Paul
    28 Jul 2010 | 8:51 am
    “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, “ This whole section is based on the assumption of our having been “raised with Christ”. If we attempt to follow the teaching of the proceeding verses outside of the resurrection power, we will be doing so out of our own strength and it will all be in vain. The Apostle Paul teaches in Romans 6:4-6 that… 4We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5If we have been united with him like…

  • Yellow Light Moments

    Paul
    3 Jun 2010 | 9:24 am
    ��our spiritual enemy is always enticing us to speed. This is the fatallest of fatal things.� Frederick Faber (1814-1863) I’m personally discovering that there are some days in which there seems to be an extra amount of external pulls – do this, do that, quicker, faster, NOW! Of course, sometimes these are unavoidable and we simply have to do what needs to be done and do it quickly. However, I’m wondering if there are days and moments when these seemingly external influences (and the subsequent pressure we feel to hurry up) are actually pointing to an internal…

  • Pentecost

    Paul
    25 May 2010 | 11:11 am
    Holy Spirit Coming by He Qi This past Sunday was Pentecost Sunday. On this day, we remember the story told in Acts 2:1-21 which tells the story of the Holy Spirit coming upon the first Christians. When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Jesus had…
 
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    theoquest

  • Hosting "The Nines"

    30 Aug 2010 | 1:16 pm
    Last year, I heard about this thing called "The Nines". There seemed to be a lot of speakers worth listening to, and the more I looked into it, the more I liked it: a free online conference consisting of 9 minute video segments from some of my favorite writers and speakers. Actually our whole staff ended up spending much of the day together with some great, quick thoughts from a pretty diverse group of presenters.This year, Leadership Network has morphed The Nines just a little bit beyond their original idea, to include a group viewing/host site option. I signed us up. So if you want to take…

  • Great Way to spend 7 Bucks!

    27 Aug 2010 | 3:07 pm
    Check out the bands' pages and make sure to be here on the 19th of September!VOTADelusions of PlutoThe AllegedBased on Fiction

  • 3:18 Ministries

    24 Aug 2010 | 4:04 pm
    "...let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth." These words, taken from 1 John 3:18 lie at the heart of a new ministry to the Apache people of San Carlos called 3:18 Ministries. The ministry has been born out of a desire to see new life rise on the reservation as people don't just hear about God's love, but truly experience it. My good friend Tory, has started a blog to keep us posted on what's going on with 3:18 as work groups come and as the full cast of the 3:18 team comes together.As a board member, I'd really appreciate your prayers for this venture.

  • Active Water

    18 Aug 2010 | 9:58 am
    Zambia from Daren Wendell on Vimeo.My students and I were introduced to a great organization this summer at CIY Move. It's called activewater and they are currently working to make clean water more accessible in Zambia. Dirty water causes or facilitates many diseases - many people die from sicknesses that may not be a big deal here because we have sanitary knowledge and water. Activewater is working to dig wells and install water purification systems that are helping give life to areas that have been afflicted with water born diseases, as well as educating the people about sanitation and…

  • iPromise

    11 Aug 2010 | 10:54 am
    So... for a long time, I've resisted. I've brushed aside what so many have hailed: ignored the call of the Cupertino sirens... and stuck with what I knew. I've remained faithful to the familiar. But today is Day 1 in what some would say is the next stage of my computing evolution and others would liken to partaking in forbidden computer fruit. I have, for the first time, plugged in and started up my iMac - which is technically WestWay's iMac procured at my request and curated on my desk. I use the word curate, because taking the computer out of it's slim little box and placing it upon my…
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    The Writing on the Wall

  • Are Christian Teens an Endangered Species?

    hiscrivener
    30 Aug 2010 | 7:20 am
    So, I’m reading WOW News’ CNN Belief Blog and I find a story that seems appealing. One sentence into the thing, I’m incensed and feel like dog cussing some folk… but for the grace of God. Your child is following a “mutant” form of Christianity, and you may be responsible. To some, that sentence may [...]

  • T.D. Jakes gives Hollywood two thumbs down and possibly one big finger

    hiscrivener
    25 Aug 2010 | 1:42 am
    It all began with “The Passion of the Christ,” I suppose. And thank God it did. Then, from the ashes of cutting floors everywhere sprouted wonderful films “Facing the Giants” and “Fireproof” that did something most Christian movies didn’t – made Hollywood stand up and take notice. Typically, and unfortunately, the term is “Christian movie” [...]

  • President Obama may not be a Muslim, but he ain’t no Christian either

    hiscrivener
    23 Aug 2010 | 1:00 am
    Ramadan speeches. Clandestine trips to the Middle East. Fighting for Islamic equality. Is it any secret that according to a recent Pew Research poll, 1 out of 5 Americans think Barack Obama is a Muslim? And if so, consider his middle name is Hussein and people in the country tend to be a skosh on [...]

  • God Sighting of the Month: Jesus as the Bread of Life

    hiscrivener
    21 Aug 2010 | 10:33 am
    It’s that time of the month again when we scour the Wall for some delusional stigmata enthusiast and post another “God Sighting of the Month.” Only, it’s been hot this summer and everyone’s hallucinogens are causing different moments of grandeur, like the water tower melting and the refreshing tidal wave is coming toward your house. [...]

  • What the Fatwa? Obama supports the 9/11 Mosque

    hiscrivener
    18 Aug 2010 | 10:35 pm
    In case you live in an Amish colony, don’t have electricity by lacking of paying a bill or are on the Kardashians, odds are you are well-versed in the “Mosque-erade” ballyhoo involving with President Barack Obama and an Islamic activity center that has a bead on some choice real estate near Ground Zero of all [...]
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    Preacherboy

  • Interview with @jimUnderscoregray

    18 Aug 2010 | 9:13 pm
    Brett Aljets Interview from Mission Igniter on Vimeo.

  • Turn "Me" into "We"

    16 Aug 2010 | 3:27 pm
    ReaLife Communities It’s about:         Community         Neighborhoods         Resources         Training         Mentoring         Restoration         Redistribution The Story:In my neighborhood, I learned over the last two years there are homeless families. I learned there are families that are hungry &…

  • Dream Year Dream Becoming a Reality!

    7 Aug 2010 | 11:45 am
    The Pepsi Refresh Grant Project has approved a $250,000 Grant proposal to "LAUNCH A COMMUNITY CENTER FOR OUR CITY TO RESOURCE IT'S NEIGHBORHOODS." the name of the community center is "ReaLife in Hazel Dell." Now, we have to start spreading the news to friends, family, & the community and tell them to vote. You can vote once a day. Here is how you can vote & help: 1. Go to http://www.refresheverything.com/realife 2. Text your vote: text 101948 To 73774 3. Use you Facebook account & install the Pepsi Refresh App 4. Install the ReaLife/PepsiRefresh widget (from above website) to your blog or…

  • Mondering Pondering

    26 Jul 2010 | 12:35 pm
    As I'm in my office pondering the future for us, several questions flood through my mind about the kind of church we are and we want to be and who God is leading us to be--and more importantly how do we reach people? I guess you could ask it like this, how do we continue to be an engaging church that is embedded our community?Who are the seekers and spectators and that we're hoping to engage? The 1st generation of the 21st Century is far different than any before. It's a group that has made more personal lifestyle changes than any other--due almost entireley to the advances in technology. And…

  • Dream Year, You Killing Me.

    18 Feb 2010 | 3:16 pm
    I've always known God has given us dreams that only we can accomplish. I've known in order to accomplish those dreams there is a cost. Also, it takes guts, hard work, trust, and faith to accomplish that dream. BUT I've learning new things along this Dream Year Journey: When God awakens that dream, when we gather others to that dream, that dream becomes a reality (not a new thought, but more realized now). God has been and continues to be involved in that dream long before we got involved. I've learned that the dream, if it is a God-given dream, isn't just for us. Often, God has people, a…
 
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    Faith Journey

  • No Longer Slaves

    Paul
    18 Aug 2010 | 4:02 pm
    Galatians 4:4-7 “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.” Here is a sermon I recently gave on this passage and on how God wants to be our Abba Father Download audio file (No Longer Slaves.mp3) Here are my notes: Sermon 8-15-2010…

  • Set your hearts and minds

    Paul
    4 Aug 2010 | 8:56 am
    …set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. In the first part of verse 1 we are reminded of the foundation of the spiritual life – that we have been raised with Christ. Now, the Apostle Paul begins to teach us how we are to live in this new way of life (because remember salvation is not just about waiting for heaven one day, it is about living in God’s kingdom here and now!). We begin by “setting” our hearts and minds on different things. Several translations use the…

  • We have been raised with Christ…

    Paul
    28 Jul 2010 | 8:51 am
    “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, “ This whole section is based on the assumption of our having been “raised with Christ”. If we attempt to follow the teaching of the proceeding verses outside of the resurrection power, we will be doing so out of our own strength and it will all be in vain. The Apostle Paul teaches in Romans 6:4-6 that… 4We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5If we have been united with him like…

  • Yellow Light Moments

    Paul
    3 Jun 2010 | 9:24 am
    ��our spiritual enemy is always enticing us to speed. This is the fatallest of fatal things.� Frederick Faber (1814-1863) I’m personally discovering that there are some days in which there seems to be an extra amount of external pulls – do this, do that, quicker, faster, NOW! Of course, sometimes these are unavoidable and we simply have to do what needs to be done and do it quickly. However, I’m wondering if there are days and moments when these seemingly external influences (and the subsequent pressure we feel to hurry up) are actually pointing to an internal…

  • Pentecost

    Paul
    25 May 2010 | 11:11 am
    Holy Spirit Coming by He Qi This past Sunday was Pentecost Sunday. On this day, we remember the story told in Acts 2:1-21 which tells the story of the Holy Spirit coming upon the first Christians. When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Jesus had…
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    GetReligion

  • Got News? What’s a moderate Muslim?

    Mollie
    2 Sep 2010 | 9:36 am
    We’ve seen quite a bit of coverage of the Cordoba mosque project near ground zero. Most in-depth questioning or investigative journalism seems focused on opponents of the mosque project. Most discussions of the backers of the project assert that they are “moderate.” But what is a moderate Muslim? What does the phrase “moderate” mean, much less imply? And this is putting aside the fact that there’s plenty of information out there about Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf that makes one wonder what the modifier “moderate” means in his case any way. I really…

  • Complex laws in Aghan stoning age

    tmatt
    1 Sep 2010 | 6:00 pm
    Excuse me if I head deep into the tmatt guilt folder and make a point or two about a story that I’ve been mulling over for more than a week. Your GetReligionistas frequently criticize the mainstream press for its simplistic coverage of issues linked to Islamic tradition, doctrine and law. The problem, of course, is that journalists keep writing as if there is only one approach to Islam. Journalists say, “Islam teaches this” and “Islam teaches that” without pausing to admit that, repeat after me, “There is no one Islam.” This amazes me because…

  • Strippers in the pews — er, news

    Bobby
    1 Sep 2010 | 10:30 am
    The strippers are back. Back at church. And back in the news. Three weeks ago, I gave a mostly negative review to a Page A1 story in The Columbus Dispatch on strippers demonstrating outside an Ohio church that, for years, has protested their livelihood. I liked parts of the Dispatch story but felt that it relied on cliches, presented the main characters as cardboard figures and failed miserably to explore the religion angles in any meaningful way. Now comes a follow-up story on the same topic from The Associated Press: WARSAW, Ohio — Strippers dressed in bikinis sunbathe in lawn chairs,…

  • St. Timothy McVeigh strikes again

    Mollie
    1 Sep 2010 | 8:00 am
    It’s not uncommon to hear people claim that all religions are roughly the same when it comes to acts of violence. And when folks make this claim in the context of terrorism in the United States, it’s not uncommon that they will cite Timothy McVeigh as an example of a “Christian” terrorist. President Bush said as much in an interview a few years ago. Nobody in the media corrected him. And outgoing Newsweek editor Jon Meacham did the moral equivalency on the flip side. He said that Nidal Hasan, a Muslim who killed 13 soldiers and wounded 30 others, was no more a Muslim…

  • Dude, where’s my Orange County?

    Brad A. Greenberg
    1 Sep 2010 | 4:09 am
    I’ve basically lived in every corner or Southern California not within the 789 square miles that constitute Orange County. (Though for a time in college I had developed enough of a social web around Newport Beach that my roommates joked that I had attended Newport Harbor High School with them.) But even I find this New York Times headline to be a bit off: “Orange County Is No Longer Nixon Country” Technically, I don’t think any part of this country, whether royal blue or blood red, has been Nixon country in, well, a long time — long before The OC’s iconic…
 
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    Ragamuffin Soul

  • Your Affair Can Only Teach Me So Much

    loswhit
    2 Sep 2010 | 7:55 am
    There is lots of talk about affairs and marriages restored online lately. Either A. More Christians are having affairs or B. More Christians are talking about their affairs. I’m picking B. I think it is great to read these stories and learn from those mistakes. I also think most people read them for the same benefit one watches Jersey Shore or Real Hose Wives of Nova Scotia… Pure train wreck drama. Now the great things about my friends and their stories is that there is a story of redemption in the end. In some way shape or form. Lot’s of people are helped by our problems…

  • What Would Jesus Say About…

    loswhit
    1 Sep 2010 | 8:11 am
    If Jesus walked into your church this Sunday morning… I know, you think He is already there, we all do… What would Jesus tell you He DID NOT LOVE about what was happening? What would Jesus tell you He LOVED about what was happening? Los PS.  It’s ok church staffers, you can be anonymous…

  • What Songs Are Working In Your Churches RIGHT NOW?

    loswhit
    31 Aug 2010 | 8:00 am
    So as I am helping craft the worship experiences at Catalyst with Brad and team, I think it’s important that we include songs in the worship sets that are currently connecting with your churches… What songs are the songs that your people sing the loudest to? What songs are connecting right now? Not your favorite song…but THEIR favorite songs… Talk to me… Los

  • Permission to Speak Freely – Free Excerpt #3

    loswhit
    30 Aug 2010 | 8:59 pm
    She’s been around the ragamuffinsoul.com community for years. My friend Anne Jackson’s second book, Permission to Speak Freely – Essays and Art on Fear, Confession and Grace releases today. I’ve asked her to share one of the essays from her book with you. Anne decided to share seven essays on seven different blogs, this being the third. For the rest of the essays, check out the links at the end. Anne is also giving away a copy of her book to two ragamuffin readers, chosen at random, on Friday. So answer the question at the end and leave a comment to be entered…

  • Ragamuffin Revival Prayer Meeting Rescheduled

    loswhit
    30 Aug 2010 | 2:27 pm
    My new house does not have internet yet. It would be difficult tonight. Rescheduled for Wednesday… Same time. Until Ten… How can we pray for you? Los
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    internetmonk.com

  • My Five Favorite Non-Fiction Titles

    Jeff Dunn
    1 Sep 2010 | 9:00 pm
    You can put down your Sunday Times Book Review section now. I have your reading list for the next several months right here. Like my list of my five favorite fiction titles, I am going to start off with some honorable mentions. And there is one book in the top five you are going to want to argue with me as to whether it belongs in this list or the fiction list. And as you did with the list of novels, please add to my list as you see fit. I am not saying these are the only non-fiction titles worth reading, or the only ones you should have in your library. These are my five favorites, and they…

  • iMonk Classic: Ray Ortlund—Reduced to Jesus Only

    iMonk
    1 Sep 2010 | 1:00 pm
    Classic iMonk Post by Michael Spencer Originally posted July 15, 2008 MOD Note: Back in 2008, Michael found this good word about what it means to be “Truly Reformed,” from one who is. Follow the link to read the entire post. From Ray Ortlund’s blog… Whatever divides us emotionally from other Bible-believing, Christ-honoring Christians is a “plus” we’re adding to the gospel. It is the Galatian impulse of self-exaltation. It can even become a club with which we bash other Christians, at least in our thoughts, to punish, to exclude and to force into line with us. What…

  • iMonk Classic: Riffs (02:18:09)—Scot McKnight on the “Neo-Reformed”

    Chaplain Mike
    31 Aug 2010 | 8:08 pm
    Classic iMonk Post by Michael Spencer Originally posted February 18, 2009 ‘Twas not so long ago, on a Calvinistic web site you’ve all visited, that one could hear a serious call to present one’s reformed credentials if one planned to be part of the discussion. ‘Twas also not so long ago, on more than one Calvinistic web site, that a person disagreeing with the main points of the host would be asked to answer “What is the gospel?” And ’twas not so long ago, that I said, “I’m not a Calvinist,” an announcement that has now earned me at…

  • What’s “New” about the New Calvinism?

    Chaplain Mike
    31 Aug 2010 | 9:00 am
    By Chaplain Mike Reading the title of Collin Hansen’s book, Young, Restless, Reformed: A Journalist’s Journey with the New Calvinists, one might surmise it would be a chronicle and evaluation of the movement from a journalist’s somewhat objective point of view. Turns out that Hansen’s book is more of an homage to a phenomenon he considers a genuine religious revival taking place in our day. So much so, in fact, that the Gospel Coalition announced on July 10 that Hansen will be joining the organization as their editorial director, writing and editing pieces “that…

  • The New Liturgical Gangstas (1)—On the Gospel

    Chaplain Mike
    30 Aug 2010 | 3:00 pm
    Today, we resume IM’s popular feature, “The Liturgical Gangstas,” a panel discussion involving representatives from different liturgical traditions who will be answering questions regarding theology and church practice. Lord willing, the Gangstas will appear on the final Monday of each month to share with our IM audience. Who are the Gangstas? Father Ernesto Obregon is an Eastern Orthodox priest. Rev. Joe Boysel is an Anglican (AMiA) priest and professor of Bible at Ohio Christian University in Circleville, Ohio. Dr. Wyman Richardson is a pastor of a First Baptist Church (SBC) and…
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    Tall Skinny Kiwi

  • A smooch and a free massage for our sponsors

    Andrew
    1 Sep 2010 | 11:00 pm
    So I woke up this morning to see someone on Twitter raising funds for Those Joneses and then I realized  . .  What the heck??? . .  Thats OUR family!!!!! What a surprise!!!And not only that, but the website was offering smooches and free massages and a week's vacation in Austin or Port Townsend. I thought it was hilarious and I read it out loud to my wife and kids and they laughed like crazy. But I still couldn't see who had put up this website and who was trying to raise money for our USA trip. But then on the very bottom I saw the two guerrilla fundraisers - Whitney…

  • We are coming to USA: Need your help!

    Andrew
    1 Sep 2010 | 2:09 am
    Big news! Our family is returning to USA for a coast to coast tour, starting late September in New York and going down, then westward through Texas, up to Oregon and down the West Coast.Why now? Well, it is kinda sudden, isn't it?  One of the biggest reasons is because we were denied a visa extension in UK and our time on the European mainland is limited to 3 months - which is over in a few weeks. We were hoping to drive over to India but the time is not right, esp. with the roads being washed out in Pakistan. So we will go back to USA for a bit.Also, we need to reestablish our kid's…

  • How Many People Attended the 'Restoring Honor' Rally?

    Andrew
    31 Aug 2010 | 9:44 pm
    Thousands of people gathering around a large vertical object to discuss plans of posterity. NO, I am not talking about the Tower of Babel. I'm talking about Glenn Beck's  Restoring Honor rally at Washington DC last weekend.The event was described as a "church picnic with a buzz" and the "Waterworld of white self-pity". The attendance figures are disputed but Newser website has a few estimates, ranging from 78,000 to 650,000. The latter suggested as the high end by Glenn Beck himself.Why are church people, even Mormon church people, so infatuated with numbers? And why do churches say they…

  • The People Formerly Known as the Congregation

    Andrew
    31 Aug 2010 | 9:03 pm
    A 2007 blog post from Bill Kinnon impacts one homeschooling mother who brings it back to life for the St Louis Post-Dispatch in a post entitled Giving Thanks for the Emerging Church. This quote from Bill's post, called The People Formerly Known as The Congregation, struck me as being powerful."We grew weary from your Edifice Complex pathologies – building projects more important than the people in your neighbourhood…or in your pews. It wasn’t God telling you to “enlarge the place of your tent” – it was your ego. And, by the way, a multi-million dollar, state of the art building is…

  • The Theology of Dr Seuss

    Andrew
    31 Aug 2010 | 5:20 am
    A blog post on The Sneetches made me think of Dr Seuss's books and the theology behind it. I left this comment on the blog:"I love Dr Seuss. The first sermon I ever preached at one of the churches I pastored [North Beach Baptist Church, Perth, West Australia] started with a reading from Green Eggs and Ham - it talked about the ability to try new things. Much theology in the Sneetches also, of course."Oh yeah and I spelled Seuss wrong in the title but have corrected it. Sorry.
 
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    Albert Mohler's Blog

  • Never Having to Say You’re Dead? The New Interest in Reincarnation

    Albert Mohler
    30 Aug 2010 | 2:25 am
    Dr. Paul DeBell believes that he was once a caveman. Not only that, he is fairly certain that his life as a caveman ended violently. “I was going along, going along, going along, and I got eaten,” said the psychiatrist. To his life as a caveman, Dr. DeBell adds his knowledge of previous lives as a Tibetan monk and “a conscientious German who refused to betray his Jewish neighbors in the Holocaust.” Dr. DeBell’s account is found in “Remembrances of Lives Past” by Lisa Miller of Newsweek magazine, published in the August 29, 2010 edition of The New York…

  • ‘Prettifying’ Darwin — A Timely Look at a Losing Strategy

    Albert Mohler
    27 Aug 2010 | 12:37 am
    The American literary critic Frederick Crews once spoke of defenders of evolutionary theory who attempt to make Darwinism appear more congenial to the Christian faith than it truly is. These defenders, Crews wrote, present a vision of Darwin and Darwinism that “is often prettified to make it safe for doctrines that he himself was sadly compelled to leave behind.” The prettifying of evolution continues, even in today’s edition of The Wall Street Journal. Writing in the paper’s weekly  “Houses of Worship” column, John Farrell argues that the 60th anniversary…

  • On Darwin and Darwinism: A Letter to Professor Giberson

    Albert Mohler
    25 Aug 2010 | 3:06 am
    An open letter to Professor Karl Giberson, in answer to his posting, “How Darwin Sustains My Baptist Search for Truth.” Dear Professor Giberson: I read with interest your posting at The Huffington Post, brought to my attention by friends. I will respond by means of this open letter, though your tone and chosen forum are not indicative of any serious desire for an honest exchange. Your choice of a secular website, well known for its more liberal leanings, is quite a statement in itself. Did you write this in order to gain the favorable attention of the readers at The Huffington…

  • Why Aren’t ‘Emerging Adults’ Emerging as Adults?

    Albert Mohler
    23 Aug 2010 | 2:41 am
    The New York Times Magazine addresses an important question in its August 22, 2010 cover story — “What Is It About 20-Somethings?” With this cover story, the venerable newspaper gives cultural attention to a phenomenon some now call “failure to launch.” In her article, writer Robin Marantz Henig probes this issue with care and insight. In all probability, this cover story will be discussed for years to come. The reason for this becomes clear once you read the essay. Henig lets her readers understand the scale of the issue — we are not talking about a…

  • “And Then They Are All Mine” — The Real Agenda of Some College Professors

    Albert Mohler
    17 Aug 2010 | 11:17 pm
    There is nothing quite like the start of a new academic year on a college or university campus. Streams of students and faculty return to the timeless patterns of academic life, summoned by the desire for learning and a commitment to teaching. Among the thousands of college students arriving on campuses at this time of year are freshmen, representing the most eager and excited new members of the academic community. The transition from high school to college is one of the most significant seasons of a young person’s life, and the energy and youthfulness they add to the campus is…
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    Without Wax

  • What Inspires You?

    Pete Wilson
    2 Sep 2010 | 5:29 am
    So I’ve been on a message planning trip for the past 24 hours with a few pastor buddies. Few things inspire me like an incredible view… so here’s what I’ve been looking at from the patio… Not bad huh? If I can’t write a good message series here then it’s just not going to happen. So here’s the “Thursday Is For Thinking” question: What inspires you? Music? Beach? Art? Running Water? Exercise? We want to know. Go!

  • Church Planters!!

    Pete Wilson
    1 Sep 2010 | 5:20 pm
    Hey Church planters! You’re going to want to get this book. Darrin Patrick serves as lead pastor of The Journey in Saint Louis, Missouri, which he founded in 2002. Love this church and what God is doing through them. You can order the book HERE

  • Ambitious Expectations

    Pete Wilson
    1 Sep 2010 | 4:06 am
    We’ve talked about this before here at Without Wax but I’m bringing it back because I’m still struggling with this one.  Gage came home yesterday after school claiming that after 7 days of kindergarten he can now read. Is it just me or does it seem parents these days put more pressure on kids than ever before? We push them to walk by age 1. We encourage them to read by 5. We desire they excel at a sport by age 9. We calculate grade point averages and start talking about scholarships by 6th grade. We want them to not only master the English language but learn a few others…

  • Leading and Loving It

    Pete Wilson
    31 Aug 2010 | 5:32 am
    I’m so proud of my wife. She’s part of a group of pastors’ wives who have started an amazing ministry called Leading and Loving It. If you’re a woman in ministry or even more specifically married to someone in ministry you need to check out this incredible resource. This fall they’ll introduce their first virtual conference for pastors’ wives and women in ministry. I could not be more excited for them. It will be a great opportunity to be encouraged and challenged from the comfort of your own couch with your computer. No traveling. No childcare. No cost. Starting…

  • Permission to Speak Freely – Free Excerpt #4

    Pete Wilson
    31 Aug 2010 | 1:00 am
    Anne Jackson’s second book, Permission to Speak Freely – Essays and Art on Fear, Confession and Grace releases today. Anne decided to share seven essays of which one of them is below. To read the rest of the essays, check out the links at the end. Anne is also giving away a copy of her book to two commenters, chosenat random, on Friday. So check out the question at the end and leave a comment to be entered to win. You can pick up a copy of the book here. Essay #4 – Finding Love (In All the Wrong Places) by Anne Jackson Most teenagers believe they’re more mature than they…
 
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    22 Words

  • Does anyone else find the Incredible Hulk absolutely adorable?

    Abraham Piper
    2 Sep 2010 | 8:08 am
    (via)

  • Nonanonymous

    Abraham Piper
    2 Sep 2010 | 6:41 am
    (via)

  • The Double Rainbow meme is dead, dead, dead. Here’s proof…

    Abraham Piper
    2 Sep 2010 | 4:43 am
    Prevailing wisdom is that a meme is officially dead when mainstream media picks it up and teleprompters nationwide tell anchorpeople to laugh at it on screen. But apparently, when that happens, a meme is only mostly dead, which, as we all know, is still partly alive. So when does complete and total death comes to a hapless meme? When can we be certain that virtual rigor mortis is only moments away? When Microsoft makes an ad out of it… www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jXz7NrfzsI (via) Mind you, I’m not being critical toward Double Rainbow Man. I would do the exact same thing. He’s…

  • What if Stephen Crane’s naked, bestial creature weren’t so self-absorbed?

    Abraham Piper
    1 Sep 2010 | 11:30 am
    I interpret MGMT’s new music video as a reimagination of these lines by Stephen Crane: In the desert I saw a creature, naked, bestial, Who, squatting upon the ground, Held his heart in his hands, And ate of it. I said, “Is it good, friend?” “It is bitter – bitter”, he answered, “But I like it Because it is bitter, And because it is my heart.” What if his heart weren’t bitter? www.youtube.com/watch?v=cB7IAXrCkO8

  • A WWII veteran tells the story of killing a young German

    Abraham Piper
    1 Sep 2010 | 7:23 am
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    beauty and depravity

  • glenn beck is bringing honor back?

    Eugene Cho
    2 Sep 2010 | 12:01 am
    I’ve received numerous emails from folks asking for my thoughts about the whole Glenn Beck “Restoring Honor” rally. I’ve written in the past about Glenn Beck and the whole “social justice” brouhaha and as I return from vacation, I’m in no mood for a slew of intense comments and emails. So, never mind me: What [...]

  • let’s not forget pakistan…

    Eugene Cho
    27 Aug 2010 | 10:55 pm
    I’m really having a restful vacation with my family right now but felt this was too important and took a few hours today to help the ODW team in Seattle launch the Pakistan Flood Relief Fund. Like many others, I’ve completely underestimated the severity of the flooding situation: On July 21st, Pakistan began experiencing extreme [...]

  • i’m off to fish and chop down trees

    Eugene Cho
    22 Aug 2010 | 4:12 pm
    This blogpost is an official warning to fishes. I’m coming after you. Eugene Cho – an aspiring professional fisherman – is going on vacation and is coming to catch you. That’s right folks. I officially begin my vacation today and will be out and about for the next two weeks. It’s been a long, hard, [...]

  • sexism? stereotypes? guilty as charged.

    Eugene Cho
    20 Aug 2010 | 12:01 am
    As most of my readers know, I wrote as post regarding Ann Rice’s simple but dramatic departure from organized Christianity entitled, “Why I’m Not Quitting Christianity.” I was encouraged by how it was generally received. It was crossed posted on numerous places including Huffington Post. But shortly afterwards, I asked for some honest and gentle [...]

  • the best part of wanting to change the world

    Eugene Cho
    19 Aug 2010 | 12:15 am
    I’m thankful that God rarely answers our constant requests of wanting to know the future. Why? Because if we knew, we’d never move forward. We’d be tempted to do what Jonah did: He ran the other way. I can tell you right now that if I knew what the past year or the past 10 [...]
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    Wrecked for the Ordinary

  • Open Letter to those Wounded by Church

    1 Sep 2010 | 5:00 pm
    Dear "Wounded": Just the mention of the word "church" leaves a bad taste in your mouth and may cause you to throw up in your mouth a little. You recall old scars that you've been trying to cover up for years. I get that. At some point (or maybe for much of your life) someone or a group of Christians have blatantly mis-represented Christianity to you. Maybe you got turned off by a televangelist or street preacher.   Perhaps you received a million dollar bill tract as a tip at a restaurant where you were working the dreaded Sunday lunch shift, full of high maintenance, crabby…

  • The Next Ted Dekker: James Rubart (Author of Rooms)

    26 Aug 2010 | 5:00 pm
    We had the chance a few months ago to sit down with James Rubart, first-time novelist of the book Rooms, a fictional account of a man who goes through an introspective journey by way of the rooms in his new house.   A thriller in the style of Ted Dekker or Frank Peretti, Rooms is a story about how the spiritual and physical worlds collide in the intersection of our lives.   Below is a snippet of some of what we discussed that afternoon in which we shared a cup of coffee with James:   Can you share a little about yourself -- your background, etc.? Water skier, dirt biker, guitar…

  • Orphaned in Haiti: Magdala's Story Continues

    25 Aug 2010 | 5:00 pm
    "After both my parents died, my aunt took care of me. And then she brought me here." Magdala's voice rang in my ears as I approached her orphanage where she lives with 125 other orphans. I imagined the feelings that might be most familiar to her. Loneliness and rejection came up. As we walked up to their orphanage and introduced ourselves to the people in charge, I watched for Magdala. I wondered if she'd be one to come running or if she was the shy type. 

 Children began poking their heads around the corners and smiling. One little boy who looked about seven years old had bumps…

  • Eat, Pray, Love: It's Not That Bad

    24 Aug 2010 | 5:00 pm
    I went to see Eat, Pray, Love last weekend with my wife, and much to my surprise, I didn't hate it. I bought this New York Times bestseller for her just before our taking a trip to New York City for Labor Day last year, so it only seemed appropriate to take her to the film when it hit the big screen. We've started an informal tradition of buying each other books before traveling. I bought her Wonderful Tonight, the story of Patti Boyd's love triangle with Eric Clapton and George Harrison, before going on our honeymoon. She bought me a Star Wars book before a trip to Costa Rica last spring…

  • Power and Love: When Churches Burn the Koran

    23 Aug 2010 | 5:00 pm
    In Gainesville, Florida a church is encouraging their members to burn the Quran in remembrance of the victims of 9/11. Their hopes are to rally as many people together from 6pm to 9pm on the day and burn the holy book from a religion they deem is "from the devil."   The church sells coffee mugs and church that loudly proclaims, "Islam is of the Devil." When a church uses social media, clothing and kitchen accessories to spark violent division between religions, this isn't supporting the ethos of Jesus, this is indoctrination, pure and simple.   The idea behind indoctrination is the…
 
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    Kary Oberbrunner : Recovering Pharisee

  • My name is…Miscarry, Sex Addict, Alone. What is yours?

    Kary Oberbrunner
    2 Sep 2010 | 7:20 am
    Brave Souls are coming forward, admitting their Given Names. This is a key step in the process of them discovering their Secret Names. Meet 3 of them: PERSON 1- I have been struggling with my identity in Christ for a while now. Our current situation has left me without  purpose, or so it feels. It feels as though I am at a complete standstill and I am struggling to find purpose. We miscarried early in the summer, we are looking for a new home while living with friends because of an ugly family battle over a house that was left behind after the death of my mother. It seems that everything…

  • Get a free copy of YOUR SECRET NAME on audio

    Kary Oberbrunner
    31 Aug 2010 | 7:00 am
    Seriously? Yep. From now until September 30th here’s all you have to do: Send me an email (info “at” yoursecretname.com) with a copy of Your Secret Name receipt from Amazon (Paperback or Kindle version). Post a short review of Your Secret Name on Amazon. Email me (info “at” yoursecretname.com) with the subject line AUDIO BOOK. That’s it. I’ll then email you a link where you can download of free copy of Your Secret Name on audio.  Crazy hey? Your Secret Name free on iTunes here we come.

  • Are you a V.I.P. Blogger?

    Kary Oberbrunner
    30 Aug 2010 | 7:00 am
    Do you blog? Want it listed on my blog and YSN website too? Just review Your Secret Name and email the link of your review to info (at) yoursecretname.com. Be a friend and post that same review on Amazon too. The number of SECRET NAME reviews is growing… Crosswalk.com Tony Morgan Marc Andre CCM Ben Arment Renee Johnson Shawn Wood Aaron Golby Cycleguy’s Spin

  • Coming to the SECRET NAME party Monday night? Here’s the Schedule and Prizes:

    Kary Oberbrunner
    28 Aug 2010 | 6:45 am
    RSVP here free to be registered for the prize giveaways.  ** ALL TIMES LISTED ARE EASTERN STANDARD TIME – Giveaway winners listed here. ** On 8/30/10 we will be broadcasting live online. HOUR EVENT/GIVEAWAY GUEST 6:00 PM Your Secret Name chat Kary Oberbrunner and Gabe Taviano 6:30 PM 3 Copies of Picking Dandelions from Sarah Cunningham Sarah Cunningham 7:00 PM Your Secret Name chat Kary Oberbrunner and Gabe Taviano 7:30 PM 3 Copies of Wasabi Gospel from Shawn Wood Shawn Wood 8:00 PM Your Secret Name chat Kary Oberbrunner and Gabe Taviano 8:30 PM 3 Copies of Faithbook of Jesus from…

  • Get 10 chances to win a $500 Amazon Gift Card

    Kary Oberbrunner
    26 Aug 2010 | 7:06 am
    For every copy of  YOUR SECRET NAMEyou order onAmazonfrom now until August 30th (Monday) you get 10 extra chances to win from the prize list.  Once you place your order just forward me your Amazon receipt with an email(info “at” yoursecretname.com {replace “at” with @ symbol}, used to fight spam) subject line “Book Order.” We’re actually letting you stuff the ballot box. Besides we want all your friends to discover their Secret Names too.  Make sure you also RSVP for the free online book release party.  Check out the prize list below: $500 Amazon Gift Card from Pray…
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    Ligonier Ministries Blog

  • If God Is Sovereign, Why Pray?

    R.C. Sproul
    2 Sep 2010 | 12:00 am
    How does the sovereignty of God relate to our daily lives? We understand from Scripture that God is sovereign, that He rules and reigns over all things for His glory and the good of His people. We also understand, having studied the Lord’s Prayer throughout this book, that God invites us to come to Him in prayer, bringing our petitions before Him. As soon as we set these two ideas—the sovereignty of God and the prayers of His people—side by side, we run into a very sticky theological question. Objections are raised from every quarter. People say: “Wait a minute. If God…

  • Columns from Tabletalk Magazine, September 2010

    Tim Challies
    1 Sep 2010 | 12:00 am
    The September edition of Tabletalk is out. This month's issue focuses on how the triune God is the foundation for all things good, true, and beautiful. It thoughtfully engages discussions revolving around Christian worship, art, truth, epistemology, Scripture, and the character of God. Contributors include R.C. Sproul, Harry Reeder, John Lennox, Frank Cavalli, Rod Mays, Keith Mathison and R.C. Sproul Jr. We do not post all of the feature articles or the daily devotionals from the issue, so you'll have to subscribe to get those. But for now, here are links to a few select…

  • Augustine of Hippo

    Keith Mathison
    31 Aug 2010 | 12:00 am
    St. Augustine was born in A.D. 354 in the town of Thagaste in North Africa to a pagan father and a Christian mother.  From these inauspicious beginnings, he would eventually become one of the most influential thinkers in the history of the Church and Western civilization.  The ramifications of his debates with the Donatists and the Pelagians are still felt to this day in the Church.  His Confessions remains a spiritual classic among Christians of widely varying traditions.  His magnum opus, The City of God laid down the political and religious foundations for the following…

  • The Problem of Pleasure (pt. 7)

    John Gerstner
    30 Aug 2010 | 12:00 am
    Continued from Part 6 Where Mercy and Justice Meet Only the Christian gospel resolves the problem of pleasure, and then offers a way that genuinely delivers us from it in a way in which justice and mercy kiss each other. Only Christ provides a true way of salvation from the dreadful predicament in which the problem of pleasure places man. First, Christianity confirms the fact that justice must be satisfied. Sin must be condemned according to its demerit. This means eternal doom. The sinner must be damned because God must be inexorably holy and just. His all-powerful Being must vindicate His…

  • Experiencing Supernatural Joy

    R.C. Sproul
    29 Aug 2010 | 12:00 am
    In John’s Gospel, Jesus expounded His declaration that He is the vine and we are the branches: “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11). This text indicates that the joy of the Christian is not the natural joy of human life. It is a supernatural joy insofar as it has a supernatural source. It is the work of Christ within us. Though Jesus spoke of His joy being in us, it is still our joy once it is in us. He is its source and its power, but it is still our joy. Jesus also spoke of the end or purpose of His…
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    Ransomed Heart Blog

  • A Park Bench

    Craig McConnell
    25 Aug 2010 | 3:28 pm
    Over the last several months I hit a bottom, probably not The Bottom, but a true and new bottom for me… an immobilizing of my heart, passion, soul, relationships and spirit. I feared my state. I could share the back story but that’s not the story. This is the story… I’m at my desk on the computer trying to paddle upstream without a paddle and accomplish something that would bring a little relief or validation to my soul when a Staff Member steps in to say something about something and disrupts my "Sisyphean challenge" to accomplish anything that might pass as a contribution…

  • Glorious Ruins

    Craig McConnell
    25 May 2010 | 6:45 am
    Okay… some of my recent time with a sage/guide/counselor was focused on my being an “unfinished” man. One might think that little time need be spent on that topic at all. But alas, it was needed!  While God has romanced me since birth, and I have chosen to follow him for 37 years… there is still much more for me to experience of God’s transforming and gracious fathering heart. There always will be. I can point to significant healing/change/growth over the decades yet I there are times, people and circumstances, in which I, still, do not live, love or relate as I want (Romans…

  • A Guide

    Craig McConnell
    17 May 2010 | 8:02 am
    I am amazed at the invitations of God to find Him anew in some profound and deep way again and again over the years. Long and true are the stories of victory, healing, growth and intimacies with God we each have and share, yet, we are always unfinished, in need of more, thirsting and longing for another story of His work in our soul. I am a different man than I was thirty years ago, twenty years ago, ten years ago… two years ago - and I hope to be much further along in my holiness/communion in the years ahead. Much, much further. These last weeks, actually 2 months, have been memorably…

  • "Love & War"

    Craig McConnell
    27 Apr 2010 | 9:00 pm
    There is so much to say about the last month yet everytime I sit down to scribble out some thoughts I get "Writers block", "Brian freeze"... a mental-spiritual-word paralysis. God's doing some pretty disruptive stuff and, seemingly, not allowed me to write about it. I hope to soon I'd appreciate your prayers in so many ways. Thank you. I did wanted to tip you off to an offer Ransomed Heart is making. God is doing some incredible things in marriages through John and Stasi's new book, Love and War....  and to get the "word" out we're giving…

  • Easter

    Craig McConnell
    3 Apr 2010 | 11:46 am
    Okay… I’m at Gourmet Cabby Internet Café in Breckenridge. Checked the emails, a mug of Sumatra next to me - it’s snowing, cold… breezy. I’m leaning back in el cheapo swivel desk chair… Tomorrow is Easter Sunday… inhale, exhale. Lord, shift my heart to Easter. No sooner do I say “resurrection” under my breath and I’m in tears. There is no order or sequence to these vignettes, my guess is that combined they are but a glimpse of that instant moment in time when there is no more time… in the twinkling of an eye… when I will be raised/changed. I will be on my face in tears…
 
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    John Eldredge

  • "Where the heck have you been?"

    John Eldredge
    7 Aug 2010 | 9:49 am
    I know. I know. In the world of blogging I have been gone since, like, the 17th Century. I woke up this morning and realised, "You just disappeared, John, and didn't tell them where you were going." As soon as we returned from the epic Wales Boot Camp in late May, I began a sabbatical. Part spiritual, part medical, this sabbatical was longgggg overdue and desparately needed. So, I sorta ran out the door (literally) with a bag stuffed with clothes, books, journals, cigars, fishing gear, granola bars and yep, pretty much fell off the planet. at least you now know why I've…

  • Summer sabbath

    John Eldredge
    22 Jun 2010 | 4:53 pm
    So, yesterday was the official "first day of summer," if you hadn't noticed. Summer has begun. Though my hunch is, most of us have already jumped the gun and embarked on summer like intentions. The bar-b-que is out, we've gone to the lake once or twice, or enjoyed eating outside or working on a tan or got our tomatoes planted or maybe only (at least) begun to think about what we'd like to do with summer.I, for one, am trying to get a bit of sabbath rest this summer. To help me, if not get the rest than at least think about sabbath a bit more than I do, I've been…

  • God as Deliverer

    John Eldredge
    3 Jun 2010 | 7:56 am
    I was thinking about the name of Jesus. How it means "God saves," or, "God is our deliverer, our salvation."Which got me to thinking about the idea of God as Deliverer, as opposed to, say, the preferred idea of God as Preventer. It made me realize how much I want God to be my Preventer more than Deliverer, meaning, I want him to prevent bad things from happening in my life. Prevent means it never happens to me. Deliver means I am in deep trouble and need God to rescue me. I think we all prefer the notion of God as Preventer. And yet, God is so much more often presented in…

  • The Hardest Thing to Face

    John Eldredge
    6 May 2010 | 9:48 am
    One of my favorite movies is an old Robert Duvall picture called Tender Mercies. Great story of an alcoholic country western star who hits bottom hard, finds Christ and a woman who loves him, gets his life back together. Anyhow, the theme song of the film has stayed with me for years. The central line being, "The hardest thing...for me to face...Reality." Ain't it the truth?Which got me to thinking about TS Eliot's line, "Humankind cannot stand very much reality."You know how this works. Are you still praying for Haiti? What do you even remember about 9-11? You…

  • Free Copies of Love and War

    John Eldredge
    27 Apr 2010 | 5:57 pm
    Let's change the world.I mean it. Let's change the world.This thing we do over here called Ransomed Heart has basically one mission: rescue hearts, and thus rescue lives, and thus bring the Kingdom of God, and thus change the world. Okay, maybe thats four things, but its really all one.And the way it happens is one life to another. We don't have a big TV show or huge ministry platform or whatever. This beautiful movement happens by word of mouth. Here's where you come in.We wrote this wonderful book called Love and War, and the folks who are reading it are loving it. But…
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    Geoffrey Janes

  • It Multiplied

    16 Aug 2010 | 6:44 am
    As the campus pastor of a fairly new campus, one of the things I am constantly watching is the growth of our congregation. Some may say that it's not about the numbers, that we shouldn't be so concerned with numbers. The way I see it, numbers is one way we can measure what's going on. If we hold steady, then are we really making any progress? But if numbers are increasing, then something is happening. It just can't stop there. Are the individuals joining our church growing spiritually? Are they developing into fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ?As I was reading in the book of Acts the…

  • Back in Huaraz

    16 Jul 2010 | 5:53 am
    We got back down off the mountain yesterday afternoon. It felt great to sleep in a real bed again last night.We had an amazing trek. We gave out over 200 Bibles, and we saw over 200 people profess faith in Christ! It is so humbling to be a part of what God is doing in such a different and unexpected way.The team did great. We had several health issues, but nothing extreme. More stories will be coming in the future.Today we are having breakfast in Huaraz. Our bus to Lima leaves at 11am. We are all looking forward to being back home, though leaving our brothers and sisters in the faith is…

  • Headed for the Hills

    12 Jul 2010 | 5:14 am
    Today we hit the trail. We leave the hotel in about 45 minutes. We will drive about 2 hours to the trailhead. Today we will not hike very far...about an hour or so. The entire team is so exited to get going. We are all looking forward to ministering to families in the mountain villages.Yesterday we went to church. It is always such a great experience for me to worship with people in different cultures. We are all created uniquely by God, and we all worship the one true God together. It is always special.After lunch we did some shopping, then spent a couple of hours in an orphanage. Those kids…

  • Sunday Morning in Peru

    11 Jul 2010 | 5:56 am
    It's Sunday morning (as you probably already figured out from the title of this post!) and things are going great.Yesterday we took about a 2-3 hour bus ride up to some beautiful glacier fed lakes. It was overcast, and a bit chilly, but still absolutely beautiful. We sampled guinea pig, boiled potatoes, boiled corn and cheese. We hiked for a little over an hour. On the way back into Huaraz we stopped for ice cream. Dinner was Pollo a la Brasa, with brownies for dessert. Then we went into town and did a little shopping. Mostly stocking up on warm hats, socks and scarves. It's going to be cold…

  • Peru - Friday July 9, 2010

    9 Jul 2010 | 5:23 am
    We made it through our first long day of travel. We flew yesterday from Charlotte to Miami to Lima, Peru. The day was uneventful, which is a good thing!We spent the night in a missions guesthouse in Lima. Today we take the 8 hour bus ride to Huaraz. The team is doing great today. Everyone is up and eating breakfast. The weather is cool - around 60 degrees. The locals say it is too cold! We love it!Pray for safety today as we travel by bus. Pray that we all continue to stay healthy as we prepare for our time in Huaraz.I will have the SPOT tracker on today - you will be able to track our…
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    Good News Magazine

  • A World Held Captive: Soon to Be Set Free!

    1 Sep 2010 | 8:18 am
    Most Bible believers think this is God's world—but how can we reconcile that with all the crime, violence, wars, oppression, starvation and disasters we see all around us? The surprising fact is that, in terms of human society and its impact, this is not God's world, but a world that has been kidnapped by an unseen enemy. Here's the story of how it was kidnapped and how it will be set free!

  • Coming Soon: The Magnificent Millennium

    1 Sep 2010 | 8:18 am
    The fact that a large portion of Bible prophecy describes the Millennium proves it is extremely important to God. And the more you understand it, the more important it will be to you!

  • Has America Lost Its Way?

    1 Sep 2010 | 8:17 am
    Increasingly it seems that the United States cannot solve its problems—whether it be the economy, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, illegal immigration or the Gulf oil spill. Previous generations seemed to know what to do. Has America lost its way?

  • The "American Century": What Was Really Behind It?

    1 Sep 2010 | 8:17 am
    Seldom has a nation dominated an era as the United States dominated much of the 20th century. Its remarkable achievements transformed the world for decades. But what was really behind its amazing accomplishments? Is there more than meets the eye?

  • Could Jesus Christ Return Tomorrow?

    1 Sep 2010 | 8:17 am
    A little-noticed prophecy in the biblical book of Revelation shows that Jesus Christ's return couldn't take place without a revolutionary change in global mass communications—a change that has taken place only in the last few years.
 
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    Kitchen of Half-Baked Thoughts

  • Essay 2, Chapter 7: Rethinking Power—Theological Reflections

    Tim Archer
    2 Sep 2010 | 6:00 am
    In our survey of James Davison Hunter’s book To Change The World, we’re ready to look at the last chapter of the second essay. Chapter 7 is called “Rethinking Power—Theological Reflections.” Here’s the abstract from www.jamesdavisonhunter.com: Only by narrowing an understanding of power to political or economic power can one imagine giving up power and becoming “powerless.” The creation mandate is a mandate to use power in the world in ways that reflect God’s intentions. Thus, the question for the church is not about choosing between power and…

  • Essay 2, Chapter 6: Illusion, Irony and Tragedy

    Tim Archer
    1 Sep 2010 | 6:00 am
    The sixth chapter of the second part of Hunter’s book (To Change The World) is “Illusion, Irony and Tragedy.” Here’s the abstract from www.jamesdavisonhunter.com: Politics has become a “social imaginary” that defines the horizon of understanding and the parameters for action. What is never challenged is the proclivity to think of the Christian faith and its engagements with culture in political terms. For all, the public has been conflated with the political. But the ressentiment that marks the way they operate makes it clear that a crucial part of what motivates…

  • Essay 2, Chapter 5: The Neo-Anabaptists

    Tim Archer
    31 Aug 2010 | 6:00 am
    These days I’m summarizing James Davison Hunter’s To Change The World. The book is made up of three separate essays; we’re up to the fifth chapter of the second essay. This chapter is entitled “The Neo-Anabaptists.” Here’s the abstract from Hunter’s website: The mythic ideal that animates the neo-Anabaptist position is the ideal of true and authentic New Testament Christianity and the primitive church of the apostolic age. Constantinianism is a multifaceted heresy that surfaced and resurfaced throughout history. The archetype of neo-Constantinianism…

  • Essay 2, Chapter 4: The Christian Left

    Tim Archer
    30 Aug 2010 | 6:00 am
    In our walk-through of James Davison Hunter’s To Change The World, we’re up to the fourth chapter of the second essay. This essay is entitled “The Christian Left.” Here’s the abstract from Hunter’s website: Progressives have always been animated by the myth of equality and community and therefore see history as an ongoing struggle to realize these ideals. The key word in the progressive lexicon is justice. The biblical tradition that Christian progressives appeal to is the prophetic tradition in its condemnation of the wealthy for their abuse of the poor,…

  • Essay 2, Chapter 3: The Christian Right

    Tim Archer
    27 Aug 2010 | 6:00 am
    We’re taking a chapter by chapter stroll through James Davison Hunter’s To Change The World. It’s a book with a relevant message for today. It’s also far from an easy read. That’s why we’re taking it slow. Here’s the abstract of the second essay chapter 3 “The Christian Right” from Hunter’s website: Politically conservative Christians are animate by a mythic ideal concerned with the “right-ordering” of society. They want the world in which they live to reflect their own likeness. A legacy of a Christian origin is understood as…
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    Godvertiser.com

  • After You’ve Taken Off On a Spiritual High, Will You Land? Or Will You Crash & Burn?

    godvertiser
    1 Sep 2010 | 5:34 pm
    Today I spent some time at a local airport that mainly serves small private planes. There’s a flight school that gives instruction in a hanger right there off the runway. New pilots are commissioned after going through training that teaches the basics and live in-the-air lessons. As I head out to a weekend retreat this week, I share some of the reflections about the spiritual highs that we may experience after an amazing Christian conference, church retreat or even after hearing a famous preacher’s semonic mastery in the pulpit. But there’s one crticial lesson of flying high…

  • Free Logos Bible Study Software Giveaway

    godvertiser
    26 Aug 2010 | 8:22 am
    When studying the Word, we’ve come a long way even in the last decade or so as a part of the Google generation. Information is at our fingertips. The Bible is no different it seems. Logos is one of the major bible study software platforms out there for pastors, seminarians and others that want to dig deep and utilize all the resources available to study a passage or Biblical topic. While the Logos Bible Study software package ain’t free, this offer is! Check out this video below for what Logos Bible Study sent me to give away to our readers here at Godvertiser.com. All you have to…

  • Culture Change On The Basketball Court Of A 6 Year Old

    godvertiser
    26 Aug 2010 | 8:12 am
    Today on the drive to basketball camp, my son started sharing with me some of the stories from yesterday on the court. Since he’s so young and not as many kids his age are enrolled in sports camps at this point, he’s mixed in at the lower end of the age range with some other boys as much as 2-3 years olds than him. A 3-year gap in age makes a difference when you’re that young — in development, maturity and size. The amazing part was the life lesson that he managed to teach me in the 15 minute drive using just one incident that happened yesterday at camp. It just struck…

  • Getting Unstuck From Ministry Muddle

    godvertiser
    23 Aug 2010 | 5:52 pm
    For many churches, the calendar is driven by the academic year because the ministry has many families with kids involved.  And if that’s the case, we’re right at the point where you’ll be rewind the clock and “start over” with your ministry programming this fall. Aside from the Sunday School and youth ministries, the other parts of the church might also be preparing for a new small group season or new lay leadership team installations, or new . . . It might all be “new” but at the same time, it can quickly become “old” and…

  • Church 0.1 Living In A 1.0 World

    godvertiser
    19 Aug 2010 | 5:59 pm
    Is there anyone out there that doesn’t take a jab at the Church with a capital “C” regarding technology of the day? We are living in a 2.0 world and the Church always seems to be struggling just to stay awake and alive in a 1.0 world mode, right? Well, this is not just a recent phenomena apparently. That’s right, back in the day, and I mean back in the olden times, the early church had trouble with adopting new technologies too! Thankfully, the help desk was around back then too though. Take a look yourself at the video below documenting the upgrade experience from…
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    Going to Seminary

  • Winners of the Kindle Contest

    Brian Schmitt
    1 Sep 2010 | 8:59 am
    We are a bit late posting our winners. Our deepest apologies for the delay. Thanks to all who entered. We pray for your seminary journey to be one of great transformation. We’ll post the first article on Monday, September 6. And, the winners are: I Keep My Eyes Open During Prayer – Nick Ng Rebuilt Houses – Jason Chamberlain Serving Pizza and Making Copies – Seth Ross What They Don’t Tell You On The Walking Tour – Anthony Russo

  • More Free Kindles For Seminary Students

    Brian Schmitt
    2 Aug 2010 | 3:07 pm
    Its time for another writing contest! We’re going to give away four e-readers or $200 toward books. (winner’s choice) Have you thought about sharing your seminary journey with the world? Perhaps you are interested in pontificating about how seminary could be better, or have questions that you’re not finding answers to regarding your seminary journey. Maybe you already have a blog, but not the readership you’d like to have. Now is your chance to build readership, pontificate about seminary to your heart’s desire, or give blogging your first go around. Submit your 500 to 750…

  • Leaving a Legacy

    Michael Eubanks
    26 Jul 2010 | 11:28 am
    Many of the posts here on GTS have pointed out that seminary students realize during their academic career just how starved they were for formal training. Even students who were reared in church all their lives have commented on how little they actually knew about the richness in God’s Word that can be discovered by learning new study methods or language principles. That’s where leaving a legacy for someone else can be so important. Many of our young men and women coming up in our churches as the leaders of tomorrow may feel that they do not have time for seminary. Many men and women who…

  • From Seminary Into Ministry: What Dangers Will We Face?

    Gregory Hartnett
    19 Jul 2010 | 6:30 am
    The year is 2015. Flying cars and hoverboards are everywhere, and most of us will have graduated from seminary. Maybe most of the world’s problems will be fixed in this short amount of time. There could be self-drying clothes and pizza that takes just seconds to hydrate… but probably not. And regardless of whether life is any easier five years in the future, Christian ministry will remain a tough task. So what are some of the challenges we will face in the future as we lead churches and ministries? It’s impossible to predict exactly what issues will face the church in the years to come,…

  • Getting it All Done

    Larry Baxter
    12 Jul 2010 | 6:33 am
    A frequent question we face is “How do we get done all that we want to do?” It’s a very important question, but if we think about this way, it’s the wrong question. A better question is “How do I do all that God has given me to do?” There is one person who has walked among us who has been able to do just that. John 17 is a well known chapter in which Jesus prays for His disciples. But right before he does that, note carefully what He says in verse 4: “I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.” (NIV)  That’s quite a shocking statement,…
 
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    Live A Revolution... Every Day

  • Day Off Photos of Kids

    Todd Ruth
    24 Aug 2010 | 6:05 am
    Spending some time off with the kids!

  • I Hate Thomas the Train

    Todd Ruth
    12 Aug 2010 | 7:59 am
    Ok. Hate maybe a strong word. And... who could really hate Thomas the Train. After all, he's a cute train. Fine. Maybe I don't really hate Thomas. But, I'm not a fan of his message... "I think I can. I think I can. I think I ca..." The message, "If you put your mind to it you can do anything" sucks. Right now, I'm putting my mind into being a 2nd baseman for the Chicago Cubs. But it ain't gonna happen, no matter how hard I try. The, "I think I can" method just won't work here.  There's another place where it won't work either... my spiritual life. I try to be patient. I try to be loving.

  • One of My Favorite Pics of the Summer / The Small Moments

    Todd Ruth
    9 Aug 2010 | 12:25 pm
    Each shot is a moment in time. Sounds cliche. But it's true. And this is one of my favorites of the summer.It's not a water park. Or big summer get-a-way to Myrtle Beach.It's just a small pool that the g-parents have.Sometimes you just have to pause and live in the small moments.

  • Give It Away

    Todd Ruth
    4 Aug 2010 | 11:56 am
    Here's a few things I need to give away... The need to always be right The feelings of anger at myself The need to be in control The feelings of inadequacy The feelings of bitterness towards people who hurt people I love The need to be liked The need to appear to have it all together The need to look religious The fear of what other think about me The fear of failing What about you? What are some things you need to give away... 1 Peter 5:7 - Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. John 14:26 - The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will…

  • The Lord's Prayer According to Todd

    Todd Ruth
    29 Jul 2010 | 12:39 pm
      Our father, who I know you are in heaven but it’s so easy forget about you because, you know, out-of-sight out-of-mind, Your name is holy, but I take that for granted because you’re God, you’re name is suppose to be holy, I really want your kingdom to come and your will be done, if it matches up to my plans. After all, I’ve got a ton to do and goals… so I’m really hoping that you can help me out. Give me my daily bread… and by daily bread I mean a car that runs good, money to buy the next iPhone, money to have a great vacation… you know, please meet our needs and then some.
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    orange county pastor

  • This Video Gets Me Fired Up To Be A Pastor

    31 Aug 2010 | 11:22 pm
    The video below won't speak to everyone who follows my blog, but if you are in vocational, pastoral ministry, you must watch this. Be challenged.

  • A Week of Celebrations

    31 Aug 2010 | 10:18 pm
    Marie and I and the kids had quite a week. A week where we were able to detach from the normal routine of life and enjoy some days of rest. It all began 2 weeks ago when we celebrated my 35th birthday in Palm Springs. Palm Springs was 115 degrees at 7pm at night, but it didn't faze us as we secured a resort hotel room with the kids for the Summer special rate of $79 (regularly $225, I love good deals!). We swam our hearts out and had a great time as a family.Over that weekend, we joined our Calvary Church family for Beach Baptisms. It was an awesome time of watching 64 people from our Church…

  • Jesus Reigns

    23 Aug 2010 | 10:12 pm
    This song by Josh Fox has been so meaningful to me and our family this summer.Listen and be moved.

  • "I Am" the Movie

    18 Aug 2010 | 5:11 pm
    There is a interesting movie coming out across the Country in October called, "I Am."Here is how the makers of the movie describe it,"I AM offers an insight into the true nature of our God, and fights the damaging stereotypes of His character through a gritty, non-linear drama with a plot weaving around average people violating the Ten Commandments -- one by one. We see that these commandments were not edicts from a jealous God, but a love letter to humanity -- a warning to those who don't understand the massive consequences of even the smallest sins upon ourselves and the world around…

  • Revelation 19

    16 Aug 2010 | 11:17 pm
    If you need to be inspired in your journey with Christ, go pick up your Bible and read and dwell on Revelation 19. I have spent tonight reading this amazing Chapter of the Bible and listening to Hillsong United's 'Beautiful Exchange (Live)' album at full blast on the i-pod. What an amazing God we live for!Revelation 19:1-91After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, 2for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her…
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    Trinity Presbyterian Church Podcast

  • Your Camp Shall Be Holy

    Pastor Reid Hankins
    29 Aug 2010 | 8:43 pm
    Sermon preached on Deuteronomy 23:9-18 by Rev. W. Reid Hankins during the Morning Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 8/29/2010 in Novato, CA. Manuscript: Your Camp Shall Be Holy

  • Bible Survey Class – Acts, Part I

    Pastor Reid Hankins
    29 Aug 2010 | 7:47 pm
    Adult Sunday School class led by Rev. W. Reid Hankins at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 08/29/2010 in Novato, CA.  This week we discussed the first half of Acts.

  • Entering the Congregation of the LORD

    Pastor Reid Hankins
    22 Aug 2010 | 8:36 pm
    Sermon preached on Deuteronomy 22:13-23:8 by Rev. W. Reid Hankins during the Morning Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 8/22/2010 in Novato, CA. Manuscript: Entering the Congregation of the LORD

  • Bible Survey Class – John

    Pastor Reid Hankins
    22 Aug 2010 | 8:35 pm
    Adult Sunday School class led by Rev. W. Reid Hankins at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 08/22/2010 in Novato, CA.  This week we discussed the book of John.

  • They Are Blind Guides

    Pastor Reid Hankins
    1 Aug 2010 | 4:32 pm
    Sermon preached on Matthew 15:10-20 by Rev. W. Reid Hankins during the Morning Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 08/01/2010 in Novato, CA. Manuscript: They Are Blind Guides
 
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    Vision Baptist

  • The firstborn belong to the Lord

    gardner@bcwe.org
    2 Sep 2010 | 8:44 am
    Numbers 3:13 Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the LORD. When all the firstborn of Egypt died God set aside for Himself the firstborn of Israel. He had saved them from certain death by the death of the lamb. He owned their very lives now. He will take the Levites in place of the firstborn in Israel but there is still a great lesson here. If you have been rescued or saved from certain death and Hell by the Lord Jesus then you belong…

  • Take care of your brother

    gardner@bcwe.org
    1 Sep 2010 | 12:58 pm
    Leviticus 25:35 And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee. If your brother gets in trouble you are to help him. It doesn’t matter if he is a stranger or someone you do not know or a sojourner-traveler passing through. What an amazing concept to teach! We are to take care of each other! We are to watch out for one another. That is not just a New Testament concept but also in the Old Testament! Check out bcwe.org

  • Bassham family prayer letter- August

    Kyle Shreve
    1 Sep 2010 | 8:46 am
    Full time Deputation! It is finally here!  We are on full time deputation to start churches in Thailand.  We have been preparing for this day for 10 years, and the Lord has faithfully brought it to pass.  Our schedule is about to change quite drastically, and we need your prayer that we would be able to have an effective ministry on deputation.  Here are some specific things that we would ask you to pray about on deputation: That our support will be raised very quickly and we would be able to have the resources that we will need to minister in that dark land. Our goal is 2 years. That…

  • Goer Sender Coalition

    Kyle Shreve
    1 Sep 2010 | 7:59 am
    Tonight will be Vision Baptist’s monthly “Goer /Sender Coalition” service. This is a spectacularly exciting service that you do not want to miss! This service will feature Vision Baptist missionaries, and missionaries in training, all preaching mini messages! Instead of one message, there will be several, shorter messages, and there will also be several interesting readings about past missionaries and their service of the Lord. This is a great chance to hear from your favorite missionaries, and those who are training to serve on the foreign field as well.  We encourage you to be…

  • He is my God

    gardner@bcwe.org
    31 Aug 2010 | 5:12 am
    Leviticus 22:32-33 Neither shall ye profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am the LORD which hallow you, That brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD. He brought them out of Egypt to be their God. He rescued, saved, or delivered them and that was to be their God. He did all that for me and you also. He saved, delivered, and rescued us from death and Hell. He saved us from our sin and sins. He deserves our honor, glory and respect. He is the one that makes us holy and we should continue to make Him holy and show all respect…
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    Pilgrimage of the Heart

  • David Platt on Living a Radical Christian Life

    31 Aug 2010 | 5:00 pm
    I just saw this video about David Platt's new book Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream, and it got my blood boiling. Here's one quote that really struck me as both incredible and challenging:   We do not have time to waste our lives living out a Christian spin on the American Dream. And here's another: The most glorious reason you exist is for the proclamation of the glory of God to the ends of the world. And it's more than having a nice life. These types of statements are what made me become a Christian in the first place -- because it wasn't a…

  • Do You Pray for Gypsy Orphans?

    30 Aug 2010 | 5:00 pm
    How often do you wonder or worry about if someone is praying for you? I think most of us take it for granted that someone, somewhere, is thinking about us, wishing us well, and yes, even praying for us. But that's not the case for millions of children around the world -- orphaned and forgotten. When my friend Tom Davis came to a recent missions training camp, he shared how Russian orphans are one of the most targeted groups for sex trafficking, because no one will miss them when they are gone. He told us that we need to begin our fight for justice by praying for the orphans of the world…

  • Celebrating Old Age

    29 Aug 2010 | 5:00 pm
    One of my new favorite writers is Sara Kelm. She's an up-and-coming author based out of Oregon that you should be watching. (Seriously.) Since I've been ranting on youth and 20-something culture, I thought this post on birthdays that Sara recently wrote was particularly relevant to some of the discussions we've been having on this blog.   I had a birthday recently, and I love birthdays. Everything about them is wonderful: the gatherings of people, the overabundance of sweets, the ignoring of caloric intake.  Birthdays, to me, are embedded with joy. Maybe this birthday…

  • How Do You Build Trust?

    25 Aug 2010 | 5:00 pm
    Today on his blog, John Maxwell posed the question that all leaders ask themselves: How do you gain the trust of others? Trust is the lifeblood of any successful organization; it is what inspires leaders to keep leading, even through tough times. It is what holds communities together in adverse circumstances. It is what leads to long-term change. Trust is essential to leadership. So, why is trust sometimes so elusive? Why do we not always believe in and confide in one other? Why can it be difficult to motivate people to respect you? More personally, what can I do today to gain others'…

  • Do Christians Care About the Sex Trade?

    24 Aug 2010 | 5:00 pm
    Here's a great post by my friend Tom Davis, plugging an AIM mission trip to specifically address the issue of human trafficking. Tom writes:   Friends, I'll be blunt: I don't think that it's time for apologetics or theology or philosophical musings. I think it's time to act. I don't want to try to guilt you with statistics or lofty figures that you can't relate to. We've all heard those before. I want to share an opportunity for you to do more than merely advocate. My friends at Adventures in Missions have put together a trip for young people to spend five…
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    LifeVesting

  • All Loves Excelling

    Andy Wood
    2 Sep 2010 | 6:43 am
    The morning sun comes calling a bit later here because of where we sit in the time zone.  But even here in a West Texas version of suburbia, it can be a glorious reminder of the comfort and love of its Creator.  I realize that most of us, Christians included, live in awe of the Grand Gesture – those spectacular moments in time that define a life, a love, a generation.  After all, nobody ever made a movie about taking out the trash.  And we don’t have to look very far to find that in the Lord.  The cross of Jesus will forever stand as God’s Grand Gesture. But it’s in the daily…

  • Call Him Benjamin

    Andy Wood
    1 Sep 2010 | 8:59 am
    Call him Benjamin.  Nice Hebrew name for this fictional, but oh-so-real young man who lived outside of Jerusalem in the first century.  Benjamin is 20 years old, and his family raised him in a typical Jewish home. Until that day. Following the Feast at Pentecost, Benjamin’s family had experienced a radical transformation.  They had heard the preaching of this fisherman-turned-prophet named Peter about a resurrected Christ who was the awaited Messiah.  They heard that God had made Him both Lord (a Greek term) and Christ (a Hebrew term). And they believed.  Oh, did they believe.  And…

  • The Frailty of the Human Heart

    Andy Wood
    27 Aug 2010 | 6:56 am
    The life you invest in is often as close as your own son or daughter… Click here to view the embedded video. If You Enjoyed This, You May Also Like the Following:The Buoyant HeartThrough the FireWhat Does it Take to Wake You Up?The Silent ChampionFaith for God-sized ProblemsGraduate Level Problem SolvingChristmas in July12 Lessons Learned from the Latest Road TripObject Lessons in the Life of a FatherOnce a Teacher, Always a Teacher

  • What it Takes to Be a Servant Leader

    Andy Wood
    25 Aug 2010 | 9:23 am
    Ask most any Christ follower who or what the ultimate model for leadership is, and they’ll point you to Jesus Christ.  Ask that same Christ follower what the ultimate standard for leadership is, and they’ll probably land on servanthood.  “Jesus was a servant leader,” they will opine, “and He called His followers to lead by serving.” Okay, so far, so good. One more question. Ask that same believer to name somebody from among the most successful ministries or institutions who actually practices servant leadership across the board… …and watch their pupils widen.  The…

  • The Buoyant Heart

    Andy Wood
    23 Aug 2010 | 9:37 am
    “Sure I may be tuckered, and I may give out, but I won’t give IN!”  (Molly Brown, from “The Unsinkable Molly Brown”)  We spend a lot of time thinking about sinking.  In the mental and spiritual circles I travel in, we focus a lot on discouragement, sadness, grief and such.  The most-read article I have written this year is titled, “The Sinking Soul.” And for good reason.  We live in a broken world.  Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted.  A significant part of the New Testament was written to people who face severe, mind-numbing hostility and pain.  And left to our…
 
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    Shawn Wood Writes...

  • The idea execution gap

    ShawnWood
    2 Sep 2010 | 5:00 am
    There is a huge gap that exists between ideas and execution. That gap is fostered by a few things. 1. Turf Wars. Who owns the space that the gap lies in and who will get to the other side. Silly. 2. Dissonence between the “what” and the “why”. @toddhenry talks about this on accidental creative [...]

  • What Anne Rice Taught Me

    ShawnWood
    1 Sep 2010 | 6:47 am
    This post was originally published on www.throwmountains.com – a pro church speaking tour that you should have at your church! Somewhere across America a few weeks ago young “followers of Jesus”, probably wearing a “Jesus is my homeboy” shirt and a pair of TOM’s declared their agreement with well know author and fairly new Christian [...]

  • Communications and Experiences Free-For-All

    ShawnWood
    27 Aug 2010 | 11:26 am
    I want to invite you to join me on Thursday, October 14 from 11:00 am – noon (EST) for an online creative coaching meeting. I’ll do my best to answer your questions from my experience at Seacoast and from connecting with other churches. We’ll also have some other Seacoast staffers online (and maybe even some other [...]

  • My Secret Name

    ShawnWood
    20 Aug 2010 | 3:00 am
    Finding our identity in the Cross of Christ and the Cross alone is one of the most freeing moments in a believers life. I know for me I often have attatched names to myself.  Names like fatherless, distracted or maybe even unsuccessful – what are your names you have assigned to yourself?  If  you are [...]

  • Honor among Tweets

    ShawnWood
    12 Aug 2010 | 6:22 am
    Twitter allows for some interesting times. We all know the great things that Twitter and other social media outlets have given us, but there are also some challenges that they bring to the surface. Some things were just never meant to be shared with everyone.  Thoughts that we used to just think to ourselves, like [...]
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    blog.worship.com

  • When Church and Cool Collide

    Worship.com
    31 Aug 2010 | 11:54 pm
    Has the born-again, marketing church considered carefully enough is that it may well be putting itself out of business with God? Please visit the original post if the links and video clips are not visible.

  • Worship is a Big Deal

    Tullian Tchividjian
    30 Aug 2010 | 3:06 pm
    Worship services ought to inform the mind intellectually, engage the heart emotionally, and bend the will volitionally. God wants thoughtful worshippers who believe, emotional worshippers who behold, and obedient worshippers who behave. Please visit the original post if the links and video clips are not visible.

  • “I Love The Way You Lie” Eminem and Rihanna

    Randy Schlichting
    30 Aug 2010 | 1:57 pm
    It is the latest smash hit music video (no pun intended). “I Love the Way You Lie” by Eminem and Rihanna features Megan Fox and Dominic Monaghan as a couple who have a tempestuous relationship to say the least. It’s definitely not a family friendly video. So why do we bring it to your attention? Please visit the original post if the links and video clips are not visible.

  • The World is filled with boys who can shave

    The Resurgence
    29 Aug 2010 | 3:24 pm
    The problem with adolescence is guys don't know when they're ever going to grow up and be men, and no pressure is exerted on them to do so. Please visit the original post if the links and video clips are not visible.

  • More Teens Becoming Fake Christians, Author Says

    Worship.com
    28 Aug 2010 | 3:08 pm
    If you're the parent of a Christian teenager, your child is following a "mutant" form of Christianity...a watered-down faith that portrays God as a "divine therapist" whose chief goal is to boost people's self-esteem. Please visit the original post if the links and video clips are not visible.
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    ReelWorship

  • A place to scream

    Dave Jenkins
    Greetings in Christ, In this sermon on Job chapters 9-10, Pastor Dave will discuss: Four features of God’s sovereignty, dealing with spiritual depression, and Jesus role as mediator. To listen to this sermon click on: To watch this sermon click on: If you want to download the sermon click on: color:#0206FD"">http://sermonplayer.com/download.php?c=4327-count_audio_download-2466938&play=1 May the Lord richly bless you and shine His face upon you granting you His peace, in Jesus name, Amen. In Christ Alone, Pastor Dave Here is where you can find me online: Facebook:…

  • Unafraid and Unashamed

    Dave Jenkins
    Greetings in Christ, In this sermon on Luke 12:1-12, Pastor Dave will discuss Five lessons for taking a strong stand for Christ, and the fear of God and the fear of man. To listen to this sermon click on: .. To watch this sermon click on: .. If you want to download the sermon click on: http://sermonplayer.com/download.php?c=4327-count_audio_download-2459340 May the Lord richly bless you and shine His face upon you granting you His peace, in Jesus name, Amen. In Christ Alone, Pastor Dave Here is where you can find me online: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dave-Jenkins/339135015103…

  • The Blood of the Prophets

    Dave Jenkins
    Greetings in Christ, In this sermon on Luke 11:45-54, Pastor Dave will discuss The importance of humility in theology, the importance of clear, precise and bold proclamation of the Gospel, and dealing with hypocrisy. To listen to this sermon click on: To watch this sermon click on: If you want to download the sermon click on: http://sermonplayer.com/download.php?c=4327-count_audio_download-2454304&play=1 May the Lord richly bless you and shine His face upon you granting you His peace, in Jesus name, Amen. In Christ Alone, Pastor Dave Here is where you can find me online: Facebook:…

  • Where there's smoke there's fire

    Dave Jenkins
    Greetings in Christ, In this sermon on Job chapters 8, Pastor Dave will discuss: The Justice of God, how not to minister to others, and how to minister to others by God’s grace. To listen to this sermon click on: To watch this sermon click on: If you want to download the sermon click on: http://sermonplayer.com/download.php?c=4327-count_audio_download-2451746 May the Lord richly bless you and shine His face upon you granting you His peace, in Jesus name, Amen. In Christ Alone, Pastor Dave Here is where you can find me online: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dave-Jenkins/339135015103…

  • Matthew 7:26-27

    Mike Robinson
    “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” Matthew 7:26-27 It’s good to go to church. It’s good to read your Bible, but Jesus teaches that if we don’t apply these truths in our lives, our lives are built on sand. A person can have a great intellectual knowledge of the Word and yet have no faith at all. You would do better to know less and act more.
 
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    Reformation21

  • A Legacy of Shame: Luther and the Jews

    30 Aug 2010 | 9:15 am
    Some years ago I was standing at a pedestrian crossing in the town of Echterdingen, near Stuttgart in Germany. It was a Sunday morning. The crossing light was at red. I looked quickly left and right, there was no car in sight and so I crossed. An elderly couple, probably coming from the same Lutheran service that I had been attending, audibly tut-tutted their disapproval at my anarchic initiative and remained stolidly where they were until the green light gave them permission to cross the deserted street. Was I unfair to see in this suspension of private judgement a vestige of what may, for…

  • A Classical Analysis of Puritan Preaching

    23 Aug 2010 | 2:56 pm
    INTRODUCTIONReformed Christians are indebted to the Puritans for a variety of reasons, not the least of which for their contribution to preaching.  In many ways, Puritan preaching was the very heartbeat of the Puritan movement.  It would be no exaggeration to say that without Puritan preaching there would have been no Puritans.  To quote Irvonwy Morgan, "Puritanism in the last resort must be assessed in terms of the pulpit."[1] But what exactly is Puritan preaching?  How may it be properly distinguished from other forms of preaching?  Why has its influence been…

  • The Crowd Is Untruth

    14 Jul 2010 | 7:06 pm
    The great Danish theologian and philosopher, Sǿren Kierkegaard, is probably best known in Christian circles for his haunting reflections upon God's command to Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac.  While I am guessing many of us would question the theology that underlies some of Kierkegaard's exegesis of the passage, I think there are few Christian writers or preachers who have so ably captured the terror and confusion that must have filled Abraham's mind as he made the lonely journey to the place of sacrifice.Kierkegaard is not easy to read at the best of times; and some of his longer…

  • A God-Centered Understanding of Sin

    29 Jun 2010 | 8:31 am
    The most important truth about sin is the one least recognized in our day. It is this: all sin is primarily sin against God. Where sin is understood as merely a moral concept rather than mainly a religious one,[1]  where it is seen primarily as a person-to-person problem rather than as primarily 'theocentric,'[2]  motivation for fighting sin is decreased and confusion about the character of God is increased. While recognizing the 'horizontal' (person-to-person) nature of sin, the Bible consistently presents sin as mainly a 'vertical' (person-to-God) offence. My purpose in this…

  • In Memoriam, James Montgomery Boice (1938-2000)

    16 Jun 2010 | 8:07 am
    June 15 marks the tenth anniversary of the death of James Montgomery Boice, who was for thirty-two years the pastor of Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, the dean of Reformed pastor-scholars in his generation, and my beloved pastor.  The enduring image of Dr. Boice in my mind is also the first, when I had walked into Tenth Church for an evening service in 1990: standing in the pulpit preaching God's Word with authority, clarity, and both intellectual and spiritual power.  The ten years since his death have seen little decrease in his standing and influence among evangelical…
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    Kingdom Calling Advisors

  • Stock Market Crash? Here are the signs

    Wes Bridel
    1 Sep 2010 | 4:05 am
    is a Stock Market Crash coming soon? Here are the signs…  the world economy is teetering on the edge of another crash.  This will include a stock market crash which directly affects most of us directly, but it will also be in many other areas.  If you missed the first economic update video in this series you can view it here. Many of you will have missed it because I coded Monday’s blog post incorrectly.  I’m sorry for the mistake and the inconvenience to you! Today’s video focuses on the biggest news items of the last 6 weeks which relate to the coming stock…

  • US Dollar & Gold News- Economic Update

    Wes Bridel
    30 Aug 2010 | 4:16 am
    Gold & the US Dollar, what’s changed?  Much has happened in the last 6 weeks that affects both gold & the Dollar.  It’s taken me a while to get back to making economic update videos since the birth of Westin.  But now I’m back.  This video focuses on the biggest news items which relate to the US Dollar and to gold.  Because it was about 6 weeks since my last report, I’m sticking to what I feel like are the biggest news items in both this video and the next one which will come out soon. As you’ll see, there have been some major harbingers of trouble…

  • A Biblical Oil Idea?

    Wes Bridel
    27 Aug 2010 | 4:10 am
    Does the Bible speak of oil being found in Israel?  Should you invest towards that end?  I have no idea, but twice in the last week someone has suggested this idea to me, so I thought I would pass it along to you since we are on the subject of oil. Here is a link to some videos and stories on oil companies in Israel.  As with any investment, you should ideally only invest if you both understand it and feel like it’s within the stewardship calling the Lord is leading you in.  Obviously, if the Lord spoke unmistakably to you about investing in a certain way, you should follow His…

  • Oil Investing Today

    Wes Bridel
    25 Aug 2010 | 4:30 am
    Oil is the most contested resource in the world.  World production has not been growing at nearly the rate that world consumption has been.  We’ve been discussing aspects of energy investing. As we’ve stated previously, the world is consuming more and more oil all the time while new supplies are not able to keep up.  While politicians love to talk about alternative energy, the fact that we rely on oil as our main source of energy cannot possibly change anytime soon.  It is easier to imagine a world where economic activity drops severely and far less energy is used in total, than it is…

  • Oil: The Commodity Advantage

    Wes Bridel
    23 Aug 2010 | 4:19 am
    Oil, like most any form of energy that we will be looking at, is a commodity product.  There might be two benefits in this for you.  We’ve started discussing energy recently.  Today, we look at the commodity advantages of oil. The first advantage is that some believe that we have entered a longer term phase where commodities are more and more scarce.  The thinking here is that as more people around the world become consumers, more and more commodities will be necessary.  Thus prices would increase. Second, if you are concerned with the value of the US Dollar dropping in the future,…
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    AGBM Blog

  • Cathy Abbitt With the Lord

    1 Sep 2010 | 7:13 am
    Word has been received of the homegoing last evening of Cathy Abbitt of Winona Lake, Indiana. Cathy is the wife of Tom Abbitt, executive pastor at Warsaw Community Grace Brethren Church, and has been a third-grade teacher at Jefferson Elementary School in Winona Lake.Further details will be posted as they are available. Your prayers for the survivors, the Warsaw church family, and the children at Jefferson School will be appreciated. Subscribe in a reader

  • Continue Praying for the Abbitt Family

    30 Aug 2010 | 7:18 am
    Tom Abbitt, executive pastor at the Warsaw (IN) Community Grace Brethren Church, would appreciate continued prayers for his wife, Cathy, who is fighting advanced cancer.Cathy returned home from the Goshen hospital recently and is under hospice care. They were able to move up the date for the wedding of their oldest son Nate (another ceremony was to be held this past Sunday in Chicago). The Abbitts' daughter, Amy, is taking time off from her job at Lincoln Elementary School in Warsaw, Indiana, to help with her mom's care. Their youngest son, Matt, is a senior at Warsaw High School this year…

  • Former Grace Brethren Pastor Clyde Balyo With the Lord

    27 Aug 2010 | 5:19 am
    Former Grace Brethren pastor Clyde Groce Balyo, age 96, of Dayton, Ohio, passed away on June 29, 2010. He was born on November 23, 1913 in Greenville, South Carolina. He attended the University of North Carolina and graduated from Grace Theological Seminary in 1946 with a Bachelor of Theology degree. He pastored at the North Riverdale (OH) Brethren from 1946 to 1953 and served with the Greater Dayton Association of Southern Baptists as supply and interim pastor for 22 years. In 1958 he accepted a position at Elano Corp. as production control manager, later becoming personnel manager. He…

  • Mike Jentes' Mother With the Lord

    25 Aug 2010 | 7:42 pm
    Mike Jentes, of the pastoral staff of the Los Altos Grace Brethren Church in Long Beach, California, sent the following note to the FGBC office:I found out my mom went to be with Jesus this morning. I'm headed back to Ohio tomorrow and the kids & Mindi on Friday for the weekend. We would appreciate your prayers.Update from the Rittman Church:Upon the sudden passing of Pat Jentes our thoughts and prayers are extended to Carl and the family. The service plans are as follows: Friends and family may call at Roberts Funeral Home on SR3 north of Wooster on Friday evening from 6 p.m. – 8…

  • Update on Seth Wirt Recovery

    25 Aug 2010 | 11:53 am
    Andy Wirt, church planter in New Albany, Ohio, has posted this photo and update on his son, Seth, who is recovering from an accident in which a couch fell on his face.Thanks so much for all that have prayed and continue to do so for Seth and our family. As you can see from the attached picture, God's healing power has been evident in Seth. Trish took him to our family's ENT yesterday and, after looking at the hospital CAT scans, Dr. Speis again shared how "lucky" Seth was not to be more seriously injured.Apparently he is healing well internally and, as you can see from the photo, he is…
 
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    The Project

  • Prohibition

    Cory
    1 Sep 2010 | 8:26 pm
    I’m going to tackle something a little different. For some reason, the prohibition of marijuana has caught my attention recently. I was listening to NPR and there was a story about it, the topic also appeared in a documentary I was watching recently. Either way, I’ve been thinking quite a bit about a particular aspect of it, and I want to present some thoughts that I had. To give you a quick run down, the de-criminalisation of marijuana is an attempt to make the use of the drug legal. This, for many, is a means of attempting to prevent, or at least significantly reduce the use of…

  • 20 Things That Happen In 20 Minutes

    Cory
    31 Aug 2010 | 9:55 pm
    Click on the image to enlarge:

  • Misconceptions: Fruit (Part 2)

    Cory
    19 Aug 2010 | 6:52 pm
    This is the second part to a two-part post on Fruit, which is included in the Misconceptions series. To read part one, click here. In that post, we looked at the concept of fruit from a personal spiritual perspective. Part two will attempt to understand the same concept, but from a more corporate, church-centered perspective. This post has taken longer than usual to write, mostly because I’ve struggled to find the right approach. This topic is a complex one, and needs to be dealt with very carefully. Essentially, I’m attempting to ask the question of how we can determine the health of a…

  • Quote #17

    Cory
    12 Aug 2010 | 11:25 pm
    “One of the great uses of Twitter and Facebook will be to prove at the Last Day that prayerlessness was not from lack of time.” — John Piper

  • Looking for God on the campaign trail

    Cory
    12 Aug 2010 | 12:17 am
    “Looking for God on the campaign trail” By Tim Costello “The power of the Christian right or the so-called ‘moral majority’ has always loomed large over politics in the United States. The impact here in Australia of a Christian voting bloc has generally held much less power and attention. Yet in recent elections John Howard and Kevin Rudd did speak out publicly about their Christian faith and even attempted to lure the Christian vote. There has not been the same overt pitch for the Christian vote during this campaign. Yet, ironically, it may still have a profound impact…
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    Connecting to Impact

  • A Foster Parent’s Prayer

    jason@church4allnations.com
    2 Sep 2010 | 5:20 am
    We had two amazing little boys with us for the summer through foster care. We loved them and were privileged to care for them, but also had to face a hard reality that once Andrea went back to teaching there would be no way we could keep up with work, school, and leading a church. We thought they would be more settled in after three months, that we’d have a good routine going, that it would get easier in some regard, but that didn’t turn out to be the case. It was an excruciating decision that we went back and forth on many times, but in the end you can only do as much as you can then…

  • No Easy Answers (The Hole in Our Gospel)

    jason@church4allnations.com
    1 Sep 2010 | 3:25 am
    Laying the groundwork is not always glamorous. Okay, I can’t think of any time when it’s glamorous, but I believe Richard Stearns lays some great foundations while giving us some important things to think about in “chapter 1: A Hole in the Whole.” These are questions that need to be asked. Is the Kingdom of God only about going to heaven? Does the here-and-now world have anything to do with this Kingdom? Are we expressing the fullness of the Gospel? The Gospel we have so often been presented with can be pretty lopsided. You get your “fire insurance” then you go about your own…

  • The Hole in Our Gospel: Chapter 1 tomorrow

    jason@church4allnations.com
    31 Aug 2010 | 12:00 pm
    This is just a quick reminder that we are starting our discussion of The Hole in Our Gospel with chapter 1 tomorrow. If you don’t already have the book, you can get the Kindle version so you can join us tomorrow (there’s a free kindle app for both smartphones or your computer). If you’re on the fence, you could go back and read my “Top 10 Reasons to Join This Book Club” and see lots of great reasons to join. The link widget will be here in the morning so that all response posts can be discussed (it will rotate back and forth between here and my…

  • Choosing Faith Over Denial

    jason@church4allnations.com
    31 Aug 2010 | 5:42 am
    Someone asked me a question quite a while ago and I asked them if I could answer it in a blog post. Until today, the idea had remained on the shelf, but I do hope to start a conversation about it here. What’s the difference between living in faith and being in denial? Many who don’t believe in God would quickly say there is no difference, but I believe when evaluated through both Scripture and experience, there is a very clear distinction here. Denial is destructive and slows down the process. It masquerades as faith. Genuine faith is life-affirming, encouraging, and challenging. It will…

  • A Love That (Re)Defines

    jason@church4allnations.com
    30 Aug 2010 | 5:44 am
    I’m Andrea Stasyszen.  I’m a wife of nearly 12 years (pastor’s wife at that) and a high school math teacher.  Mother of 3: 1 by birth, 2 by adoption but certainly all mine! Oh yeah, and I have infertility. Please don’t take this the wrong way, but if you don’t have issues with infertility then please don’t tell me about your friend’s sister’s cousin and what they did to finally have a baby.  I have had a medical team of professionals and I’m sure they thought about it already. Don’t tell me you understand, because you don’t unless you’ve walked through it for years…
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    Family Research Council Blog

  • Escaping History Not an Option

    Rob Schwarzwalder
    1 Sep 2010 | 2:17 pm
    On the credenza behind his Oval Office desk, President Obama has placed a bust of Abraham Lincoln. This is admirable, in that Lincoln represents the very definition of American greatness.  Perhaps, though, Mr. Obama might take some time to ponder something the 16th President wrote in an 1862 message to Congress: “We cannot escape history. We of this Congress and this Administration will be remembered in spite of ourselves. No personal significance, or insignificance, can spare one or another of us.” That was true during the Civil War, and it remains true today, which is why the image Mr.

  • September 1, 1939: “The Unnecessary War”

    Robert Morrison
    1 Sep 2010 | 7:46 am
    Last night, President Obama announced the end of combat operations in Iraq and pledged to withdraw from Afghanistan, beginning next summer. While all Americans yearn for peace, we need to proceed in the world not on the basis of hopes for change, but with a clear-eyed view of the world as it is. And to recognize the world as it is, we need to know more about the world as it was. Today is the anniversary of the beginning of World War II in Europe. When Hitler attacked Poland on September 1, 1939, he tore up all previous agreements, he answered the feeble pleas of the League of Nations with…

  • Good News Story on Healthy Marriage Initiative

    Jeanne Monahan
    31 Aug 2010 | 11:54 am
    A very promising study was recently released involving the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Healthy Marriage Initiative (HMI) programs in Oklahoma. The report revealed that “Building Strong Families” is having a lasting and positive impact in Oklahoma, with measurable results including fathers staying more involved in family life, and couples reporting higher quality relationships. Find out more information on this program and study here. See here or here for more information on the Healthy Marriage Initiative.

  • Methinks the Mayor Doth Protest Too Much

    Chris Gacek
    30 Aug 2010 | 9:04 pm
    Jeff Kuhner is an excellent columnist who writes for the Washington Times.  I have commented positively on his work before.  Last Friday he wrote an excellent piece on the ever-egregious mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg.  This is the mayor who – when he isn’t creating a nanny state to tell us when we can’t eat salt or trans-fats – is casting aspersions on the citizens of his city and this nation over their opposition to mosque that is slated to be built near the World Trade Center site. Kuhner takes Bloomberg to the proverbial woodshed, but along the way he makes an observation…

  • Is our President “Snakebit?”

    Robert Morrison
    27 Aug 2010 | 1:37 pm
    Peggy Noonan caused a stir with her column in the Wall Street Journal last June. With the BP oil spill continuing to gush into the Gulf of Mexico, this former Reagan speechwriter asked if Americans weren’t beginning to see our new president as “snakebit.” She pointed out that Americans want a leader on whom fortune shines. The country gets antsy, she wrote, when people have the feeling that the president is unfortunate. Christians have learned not to put stock in superstition. Rabbits’ feet can safely stay where the Lord put them, as far as we are concerned. We don’t say “Luck…
 
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    Why God?

  • The Three Things That Churches Must Never, Ever Mess With

    admin
    15 Aug 2010 | 10:16 pm
    When it comes to doctrine, there are many, many things that churches can have legitimate differences of opinion about. However, there are three key areas of doctrine that no Christian church or organization must never, ever mess with. If you are involved in a church or an organization that is trying to change one of the things on the list below, than you need to get out of there immediately. Almost every “church” or organization that is considered a “cult” has tried to change one of the things listed below. If you are wondering why God is not moving powerfully in the church that you…

  • Why God Arranged The Tribes Of Israel The Way That He Did In Numbers Chapter 2

    admin
    2 Jun 2010 | 11:03 am
    The more you look into the Bible the more absolutely amazing things that you find. For example, Numbers chapter 2 is normally a chapter that most Christians find tremendously "boring" and pass over without giving it much attention. However, the truth is that there is one thing that is truly amazing and prophetic about that chapter. In that chapter, God gives Moses instructions for how the people of Israel were to set up camp in the wilderness. So is there a reason why God had them arrange the camp in a very particular manner rather than just letting them set up camp however they wanted? Yes -…

  • The Hebrew Yeshua vs. the Greek Jesus

    admin
    9 May 2010 | 8:16 am
    The video we have attached features former Pharisee, Nehemia Gordon, a Dead Sea Scrolls scholar and Semitic language expert, who explores the ancient Hebrew text of the Gospel of Matthew from manuscripts in the archives of Jewish scribes. Through Gordon's research, he reveals that the more "modern" Greek text of Matthew, from modern  translations depicts "another Jesus" from the Yeshua portrayed in the ancient Hebrew version of Matthew. His investigation reveals astounding evidence every Christian should know about.  Even though Nehemia Gordon does not believe that Yeshua is the messiah,…

  • Scientific Evaluations of Christianity

    admin
    27 Apr 2010 | 7:28 pm
    The bible has not got it's fair share of insults as other religions, it gets more than all of them combined.  In fact, I guarantee you that in the next movie you watch, the Lords name will be insulted by taking it in vein.  I ask you to recall the last time you remember Buddha, or Muhammadbeing mentioned in our modern movies as a swear word?   Today more than ever Christianity has been pushed out the windows of our classrooms, our courts and has been publicly insulted in the worlds entertainment.  We are told in the bible that in the end days more people will turn away from the faith,…

  • Deist Antony Flew Dies at 87

    admin
    15 Apr 2010 | 11:10 pm
    My heart goes out to Flew's family today as their beloved family member has passed on. Today, I spent my day refining my "evidence for Christianity" pamphlet I often give away daily as evidence for Christianity. Instead of giving a Christian cartoon track, I have summarized the very best evidence in one sheet of paper back to back, (in size 10 font) because it is on my heart that people should know the very best evidence for Christ. Tonight, as my husband leaned over to show me an article in The Christian Post, that Antony Flew passed away, and I was shocked and rather sad, and a bit angry. I…
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    Blogging Theologically

  • Get Serious About Your Studies: Choosing Your Reading Plan

    Aaron Armstrong
    2 Sep 2010 | 3:00 am
    You want to read the Bible all the way through… but where do you start? Do you read from cover to cover? Pick a book at random until you’re done? Play Bible Roulette and hope you don’t end up in Lamentations or Leviticus every day? While any of these can work (although that last one might not be the best idea), a good reading plan can really help you out. What is a Bible reading plan? A Bible reading plan is a guide to help you read the Bible within a set period of time (the most common plans are in 90, 180 and 365 day increments). There are a pretty wide variety of plans…

  • “When Older Men Stop Investing in Younger Men, Younger Men Stop Caring…”

    Aaron Armstrong
    1 Sep 2010 | 9:00 am
    Watch the video and then order a copy of the book, Church Planter: The Man, the Message, the Mission:

  • Get Serious About Your Studies: Choosing Your Systematic Theology

    Aaron Armstrong
    1 Sep 2010 | 3:00 am
    Outside of a great study Bible, one of the most important study tools in a Christian’s library is a good systematic theology. What is a Systematic Theology? The term “systematic theology” is a scary one for a lot of people. It sounds cold and mechanical. But a good systematic theology can help inspire a greater love for the Bible and the God who inspired its writing. Systematic theology, in broad strokes, seeks to compile everything that the Bible says about a particular doctrine (such as the Trinity, Penal Substitutionary Atonement, the Attributes of God, Creation, etc.)…

  • Book Review: Ryken’s Bible Handbook by Ryken, Ryken and Wilhoit

    Aaron Armstrong
    31 Aug 2010 | 3:00 am
    Title: Ryken’s Bible Handbook Authors: Leland Ryken, Philip Ryken and James Wilhoit Publisher: Tyndale House (2005) Studying the Bible can be a challenge. While the majority is relatively straightforward, there are many passages and books that don’t make sense to the average reader. How do you properly interpret a book like Revelation? How do you apply the Proverbs, the Parables or the Song of Solomon? And where do you start to look for answers? Leland Ryken, Philip Ryken  and James Wilhoit’s Ryken’s Bible Handbook is a great starting point. This book provides a…

  • Francis Chan: “International Man of Fu Manchu Mystery”

    Aaron Armstrong
    30 Aug 2010 | 9:00 am
    Ever since he announced that he was leaving his pastorate at Cornerstone Church in Simi, California, it seems everyone’s been wondering, “What the heck is going on with Francis Chan?” In a conversation with Francis Chan and Joshua Harris, Mark Driscoll asks, “Everybody thinks you’re cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs. You’ve got a good church going on and you hit the eject button and now you’re an international man of Fu Manchu mystery. What is going on? What are you thinking? And what’s going to happen to your church?” You see Chan’s response in the video…
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    Bible Stories My Kids Love

  • Joseph's Big Dream

    31 Aug 2010 | 12:30 pm
    Joseph had a BIG dream. A dream his family doubted. The story of Joseph's dream teaches us about the faithfulness of God.Enjoy today's Bible Stories My Kids Love. MP3 File - Click Here to Download Podcast GREAT DISCOUNTS FOR BIBLE STORIES LISTENERS!Get 10% off any order at GoDaddy bible8Get $5 off any purchase of $30 or more* bible9Get your own .com for $7.49* bible10

  • Blind and the Mute

    23 Aug 2010 | 9:11 am
    Jesus comes across people in need, and then the amazing happens. Hear in today's Bible Stories My Kids Love about 2 blind men and a mute man and their amazing miracles!!Enjoy today's Bible Stories My Kids Love. MP3 File - Click Here to Download Podcast GREAT DISCOUNTS FOR BIBLE STORIES LISTENERS!Get 10% off any order at GoDaddy bible8Get $5 off any purchase of $30 or more* bible9Get your own .com for $7.49* bible10

  • The Endless Supply

    7 Aug 2010 | 8:43 pm
    Drought was upon the land and people were starving. God sent a woman to Elijah that was on her way to cook the final meal for her and her son...that is, until a miracle happened.Find out what happens on today's Bible Stories My Kids Love. MP3 File - Click Here to Download Podcast GREAT DISCOUNTS FOR BIBLE STORIES LISTENERS!Get 10% off any order at GoDaddy bible8Get $5 off any purchase of $30 or more* bible9Get your own .com for $7.49* bible10

  • The Snoring Army

    29 Jul 2010 | 10:59 am
    King Saul's army of 3000 is after David. God put the entire army to sleep as David sneaks into the army's camp...Find out what happens on today's Bible Stories My Kids Love. MP3 File - Click Here to Download Podcast GREAT DISCOUNTS FOR BIBLE STORIES LISTENERS!Get 10% off any order at GoDaddy bible8Get $5 off any purchase of $30 or more* bible9Get your own .com for $7.49* bible10

  • The Lions Did Not Roar

    27 Jul 2010 | 6:04 pm
    Daniel continued to obey God and pray everyday but by doing so, he soon found himself in a den of LIONS!!Find out what happens on today's Bible Stories My Kids Love. MP3 File - Click Here to Download Podcast GREAT DISCOUNTS FOR BIBLE STORIES LISTENERS!Get 10% off any order at GoDaddy bible8Get $5 off any purchase of $30 or more* bible9Get your own .com for $7.49* bible10
 
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    Mission News from OM USA

  • ShipShots: legacy of libraries

    Donna Williams
    1 Sep 2010 | 3:12 pm
    Choosing books to donate to local libraries in Sierra Leone.

  • Pakistan update page

    Donna Williams
    31 Aug 2010 | 3:50 pm
    To keep current on news from the Pakistan flood, bookmark omusa.org/pakistan.  The timeline has been moved to this page and more updates are being added.  Thanks for your continued prayers and support for the Pakistani people.  Your gifts are crucial during this time. Give to Pakistan flood relief.

  • kids' gymnastics performance in India

    Donna Williams
    30 Aug 2010 | 5:00 am
    Students at the Good Shepherd Community School in India show their skills as gymnasts.

  • August International Update

    Donna Williams
    27 Aug 2010 | 5:00 am

  • new books for new believers

    Donna Williams
    26 Aug 2010 | 5:00 am
    OM founder George Verwer tours Lake George and offers books to anyone new to the Christian faith. For the free books, write George here directly.
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    Missionary Confidential

  • Because the Greatest Risk in Life is Not Taking One

    C. Holland
    2 Sep 2010 | 7:52 am
    Because the Greatest Risk in Life is Not Taking OneNew Post from: Missionary Confidential “Unless there is the element of extreme risk in our exploits for God, there is no need for faith.” - Hudson Taylor No related posts.

  • Christian Snobbery and Flag Planting

    C. Holland
    30 Aug 2010 | 8:49 am
    Christian Snobbery and Flag PlantingNew Post from: Missionary Confidential Sometimes I’m not sure that people who visit our congregation think through what they’re actually stating when they say some of the following to us: “Your little group” (Usually with the superior tone reserved for cute, helpless things) “Doesn’t it bother you how small your church attendance is?” (Am I supposed to be?  Why is the questioner disappointed when I’m not?) “Why would you live in such a cold, damp country?” (Because people outside of temperate climates need the Gospel, too) “Don’t…

  • Facebook FAIL

    C. Holland
    26 Aug 2010 | 1:24 pm
    Facebook FAILNew Post from: Missionary Confidential A few weeks ago I realised it had been a long time since hearing from one of my best friends back in the States, so I dropped an email to check in, asking to chat sometime.  I hadn’t heard back so the other day I rang and left a message: let’s chat when you have a moment.  Finally I got a quick email back that said: “Been busy, got lots update you on, but I’ve been keeping up with you on Facebook.  Glad to see you got to go to that wedding…” and so followed a list of what I’ve been doing the last few months.  That’s…

  • From the Missionary Blogosphere

    C. Holland
    16 Aug 2010 | 9:27 am
    From the Missionary BlogosphereNew Post from: Missionary Confidential Have we missionaries lost our “Chariots of Fire”? An article in the Wall Street Journal seems to think so. (HT: The Search) Though it’s not Christian in focus, Godin’s post on “Resilience and the Power of Slow Change” is so important for missions ministry (well, for any Christian ministry, really). Wrecked For the Ordinary debates whether we need a missions moratorium. The Upstream Collective recently had a series of posts on what a sending church is and how the relationship is important…

  • Stuck in a Moment, Both Young and Old

    C. Holland
    28 Jul 2010 | 8:08 am
    Stuck in a Moment, Both Young and OldNew Post from: Missionary Confidential The other evening we were invited to attend an outreach meeting.  Located in a place that has no evangelical influence for a 15 mile radius, we were encouraged to hear that the monthly service was drawing around 30 people.  But when we walked in the door, it became clear to me that we had stepped into a different time.  It was this nation’s interpretation of a good, old-fashioned tent revival.  And it couldn’t be more out of place. At first I thought that maybe I was being too judgmental or too quick to think,…
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    Ed Bahler's Blog

  • Do They Mimic You?

    Ed Bahler
    2 Sep 2010 | 7:00 am
    Half of all the churches in America failed to add one person through conversion last year. Every week, 43,000 Americans are leaving the church for good. And on average, churches 20 years old and older are shrinking every year, as the chart here shows. It’s because of statistics like these that I invested four days last week in San Francisco looking for answers with a bunch of innovative pastors. It’s the fourth quarter, and it’s time we rally. It has become clear that we must discern and launch new expressions of the gospel that engage and transform the heart. It’s not…

  • Will You Teach Me to Pray?

    Ed Bahler
    28 Aug 2010 | 3:32 pm
    This week our 12-year-old adopted daughter asked, “Mommy, why did you come for me?” Then she softly shared how her orphan friends, the beautiful ones, were chosen by adopting families. For ten years she wondered if anyone would come for her. My wife explained how she had prayed for an adopted daughter and sensed God leading her to Mia. She told her how our whole family had prayed and felt that God had brought her to our home. Mia then asked, “Will you teach me to pray?” This week I spent three days in San Francisco with some of the most innovative pastors in the US.

  • To The Ends

    Ed Bahler
    22 Aug 2010 | 1:49 pm
    Would you believe that nearly 60% of the US population will never be reached by the current models of the church? Even with a combined annual budget of nearly $107 billion (mint.com), the existing 300,000 churches in the US have failed to connect with over 180 million Americans. Americans who will probably never attend what we know of as church. That’s why twelve innovative mega-church pastors from across the US have committed to a two-year journey of prayer and discovery to reach this 60%. The Cornerstone Knowledge Network (CKN) has been asked to be a part of this effort, known as…

  • Jesus Apprentice

    Ed Bahler
    18 Aug 2010 | 4:31 pm
    We consume over 3 million gallons of oil a day in North America. We have no choice but to drill a mile below the Gulf Of Mexico. Consumption typifies most areas of our life. Even our life at church. But Jesus had a different vision for us when he said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” He has called us to be witnesses, his apprentices, givers…wherever we are. In his book, Exponential, my friend Dave Ferguson explains that the word “witness” in the…

  • Never Give Up

    Ed Bahler
    13 Aug 2010 | 7:44 am
    We can commit to years of preparation for a great cause or challenge. Even so, things beyond our control can cause deep disappointment. Those are moments of great truth. Those are moments that define us. 400 meter British Olympian Derek Redmond had a defining moment on the back stretch of the 1992 Olympics. Despite 13 surgeries on his Achilles tendon and knees he was in the best shape of his career. He had recently set the British 400 meter record and was a world champion in the 4X400 relay. He was heavily favored to medal. This was his race! But 150 meters in he pulled a hamstring and was…
 
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    It's Complicated

  • Reinventing Ourselves on Facebook and Twitter

    admin
    2 Sep 2010 | 8:42 am
    Have you ever experienced the paradox of following someone on Twitter or Facebook, then later meeting them in person?  Much of the time, they’re a completely different person than the one you’ve come to know and love online.  Sometimes, it’s simply a personality thing, and that’s okay. But so much of the time, the online profile they’ve created for you to “experience” isn’t complete. Sometimes, it isn’t even real. We all do this.  We create a profile of the person we WANT others to see.  Then, we support that false self with our status…

  • Five Questions to Help You Pick Songs

    admin
    18 Aug 2010 | 4:02 pm
    Being a Worship Leader is such a difficult task, and it’s made even more difficult because it’s repeated every seven days.  Sometimes, it’s enough to make good people go crazy. So to help infuse creativity into the chaos, here are five questions for worship leaders to ask as the songs are being chosen.  These are not meant to strap you in, but to set you free.  So if they don’t give you a feeling of freedom, toss them and stop reading this blog altogether. WHAT AM I ASKING MY CONGREGATION TO RESPOND TO? In Scripture, our worship is always a response to something God…

  • Art As a Response

    admin
    16 Aug 2010 | 8:13 am
    The artist’s work is a creative work of response, not a laborious work of initiation.  It can be long and difficult, but art is never something the artist initiates and fulfills on her own.  She can fool herself into thinking that it’s all her idea, and that she initiated the whole thing, but I don’t think that’s true.  God in Christ, working through the beauty and pain in the lives of artists, beckons Christian artists to respond to that working, and to simply and beautifully… Create. Our paintings, and our songs, and our web designs, and our short films, and our…

  • Worship and Magic

    admin
    11 Aug 2010 | 9:18 am
    I was in church last Sunday, and we had just finished a time of corporate, then individual prayer.  The lights had been brought low, and now a crescendo was about to happen.  The worship leader started the song “Glory to God”, by Fee Band. I love that song. As we traveled through the verses and the chorus, we finally arrived at the bridge.  It’s such a powerful moment in that song. “Take my life and let it be, all for You and for Your glory.  Take my life and let it be Yours.” My open hands shot upward, my eyes closed tightly, and I sang louder than before.  In that moment, I…

  • The Least

    admin
    9 Aug 2010 | 7:35 am
    Floodgate was recently invited to participate in A Night of Film, sponsored by the Echo Church Media Conference.  The rules were simple:  Create whatever’s on your heart, and don’t make it available for viewing (or for sale) until after the Conference is over. At first, the guys and I were going to go with a funny video idea called “Witnessia”.  But the more we talked about it, the more we felt like we wanted to say something really important.  While some Producers use humor to do that, it’s never been our forte.  For us, the answer was to create a short…
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    New Leaven

  • A What-were-you-thinking moment?

    T.C. R
    2 Sep 2010 | 9:36 am
    This is absolute nonsense!  I found it while surfing.  It’s bad art.  It doesn’t make sense to me!  I don’t it! It was ill-conceived. Filed under: Gospel, Miscellanies Tagged: Gospel, RIP Gospel

  • First Impressions of the CEB New Testament: Romans

    T.C. R
    2 Sep 2010 | 12:00 am
    I’m especially severe on English Bible translations in both Galatians and Romans, especially Romans, since it’s considered Paul’s magnum opus. —from Paul’s Letter to the Romans (all bold emphases added): 1:3— “His Son was descended from David” vs “concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh” (ESV).  κατὰ σάρκα, “according to the flesh,” is untranslated in the CEB.  This becomes problematic in light of Paul’s use of κατὰ σάρκα throughout Romans.  κατὰ…

  • Wednesdays with Wright: On the Lasting Impact of Luther and Calvin on his Methodology

    T.C. R
    1 Sep 2010 | 11:11 am
    Love him or hate him, the likes of biblical scholar N.T. Wright cannot be ignored.  He must be engaged. N.T. Wright on the lasting impact of Martin Luther and John Calvin on his approach to Scripture: “Ever since I read Luther and Calvin, particularly the latter, I determined that whether or not I agreed with them in everything they said, their stated and practiced method would be mine: to soak myself in the Bible, in the Hebrew and Aramaic Old Testament and the Greek New Testament, to get it into my bloodstream by every means possible, in the prayer and hope that I would be able to…

  • First Impressions of the Common English Bible New Testament: Galatians

    T.C. R
    31 Aug 2010 | 1:08 am
    Yesterday I received my free copy of the Common English Bible (CEB) New Testament.  The tag line for the CEB is as follows: A fresh translation to touch the heart and mind. The CEB is a result of 115 leading biblical scholars from 22 denominations, field tested by 77 reading specialists in 13 denominations. Here’s the grind: for the next several weeks, I’ll be posting my First Impressions of the CEB from Paul’s Letters, beginning with Galatians, with the ESV as a match up, from time to time: —from Paul’s Letter to the Galatians 1:6— “another…

  • About 90, 000 rallied to Glenn Beck and his “Divine Destiny”

    T.C. R
    30 Aug 2010 | 12:00 am
    Last Saturday, about 90, 000 people rallied to Lincoln Memorial in Washington—to be a part of conservative TV host Glenn Beck’s “Restoring Honor” rally. Mr. Glenn said things like: “Look forward. Look West. Look to the heavens. Look to God and make your choice.” Which led a Southern Baptist leader Richard Land to say: “This guy’s on secular radio and television,” Land said Saturday, “but his shows sound like you’re listening to the Trinity Broadcasting Network, only it’s more orthodox and there’s no appeal for money…
 
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    Wrecked for the Ordinary

  • Open Letter to those Wounded by Church

    1 Sep 2010 | 5:00 pm
    Dear "Wounded": Just the mention of the word "church" leaves a bad taste in your mouth and may cause you to throw up in your mouth a little. You recall old scars that you've been trying to cover up for years. I get that. At some point (or maybe for much of your life) someone or a group of Christians have blatantly mis-represented Christianity to you. Maybe you got turned off by a televangelist or street preacher.   Perhaps you received a million dollar bill tract as a tip at a restaurant where you were working the dreaded Sunday lunch shift, full of high maintenance, crabby…

  • The Next Ted Dekker: James Rubart (Author of Rooms)

    26 Aug 2010 | 5:00 pm
    We had the chance a few months ago to sit down with James Rubart, first-time novelist of the book Rooms, a fictional account of a man who goes through an introspective journey by way of the rooms in his new house.   A thriller in the style of Ted Dekker or Frank Peretti, Rooms is a story about how the spiritual and physical worlds collide in the intersection of our lives.   Below is a snippet of some of what we discussed that afternoon in which we shared a cup of coffee with James:   Can you share a little about yourself -- your background, etc.? Water skier, dirt biker, guitar…

  • Orphaned in Haiti: Magdala's Story Continues

    25 Aug 2010 | 5:00 pm
    "After both my parents died, my aunt took care of me. And then she brought me here." Magdala's voice rang in my ears as I approached her orphanage where she lives with 125 other orphans. I imagined the feelings that might be most familiar to her. Loneliness and rejection came up. As we walked up to their orphanage and introduced ourselves to the people in charge, I watched for Magdala. I wondered if she'd be one to come running or if she was the shy type. 

 Children began poking their heads around the corners and smiling. One little boy who looked about seven years old had bumps…

  • Eat, Pray, Love: It's Not That Bad

    24 Aug 2010 | 5:00 pm
    I went to see Eat, Pray, Love last weekend with my wife, and much to my surprise, I didn't hate it. I bought this New York Times bestseller for her just before our taking a trip to New York City for Labor Day last year, so it only seemed appropriate to take her to the film when it hit the big screen. We've started an informal tradition of buying each other books before traveling. I bought her Wonderful Tonight, the story of Patti Boyd's love triangle with Eric Clapton and George Harrison, before going on our honeymoon. She bought me a Star Wars book before a trip to Costa Rica last spring…

  • Power and Love: When Churches Burn the Koran

    23 Aug 2010 | 5:00 pm
    In Gainesville, Florida a church is encouraging their members to burn the Quran in remembrance of the victims of 9/11. Their hopes are to rally as many people together from 6pm to 9pm on the day and burn the holy book from a religion they deem is "from the devil."   The church sells coffee mugs and church that loudly proclaims, "Islam is of the Devil." When a church uses social media, clothing and kitchen accessories to spark violent division between religions, this isn't supporting the ethos of Jesus, this is indoctrination, pure and simple.   The idea behind indoctrination is the…
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    The Creative Ledge

  • I'm baaaaack!!!

    1 Sep 2010 | 5:30 am
    I took the summer off. Yes, I did. A full three months.This blog sat without an update all summer long. Well, except for that one day when I apologized to all of you for just disappearing. It wasn’t that I forgot or anything… it was on purpose. I had my reasons. They were good ones, too. No regrets and lots of takeaways.Here are just a few of my summer takeaways:A good family is to be cherished.It was my son’s last summer at home before college. It was a season of transition for Debbie and I – a trial run for learning to be “empty nesters,” or as we fondly call it, “second…

  • My Famous Disappearing Act

    11 Aug 2010 | 5:30 am
    I know, I know... my last blog post was over 60 days ago. Thanks for counting.For those of you who thought your RSS reader deleted me, I truly apologize. For those of you who thought I fell off the face of the earth, I truly apologize. I should have given you some kind of warning. I didn't quit blogging, I just took a season away. It was a conscious decision. It was a good thing. It was needful. I'm sure I will tell you all about it when I officially return (refreshed, wiser and... better looking?) September 1st.I became aware that public repentance was necessary last week, when I received a…

  • Memorial Day: Honoring the legacy of heroes…

    31 May 2010 | 6:30 am
    The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example.  ~ Benjamin Disraeli----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Memorial DayHonoring those who have given their lives to secure my freedomRemembering those who put themselves in harm’s way to keep it far from othersAppreciating the sacrifice of those who put others before themselvesPraying for the loved ones they left behindThanking God for a nation that remains free because brave men and women continue to…

  • Notable or not able?

    27 May 2010 | 5:15 am
    Sometimes being notable requires you to act quickly and be decisive with no hesitation. If you develop a habit of being slow, waiting and hesitating may cost you opportunities. Continually second guessing yourself will not only kill opportunity, it will kill your self esteem and ability to execute speedily.I was just noticing the other day that “notable” and “not able” are the exact same letters. Exactly the same except for one thing: a space, a hesitation.Hesitation may be the difference of notable and not able.

  • Responsibility and other things we avoid.

    26 May 2010 | 5:15 am
    Did you ever wonder why we use the phrase “taking responsibility?” This isn’t a trick question or anything. The answer is actually simple and obvious. Responsibility can’t be assigned. It’s voluntary. It’s something we must accept. It must be taken.This is the point of disconnect.Because it’s our choice, we can choose to not accept. Nobody can make us step up to the plate. It’s entirely up to us. Responsibility requires us to put ourselves on the chopping block. It requires us to be willing to risk. It also requires us to grow up. That brings me to the next, obvious…
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    Thoughts about Nothing

  • Dwarfs, Giants and Mentors

    Kyle Reed
    1 Sep 2010 | 6:00 am
    Will Ferrell knows something about mentoring. In one of his more classic movies, Kicking and Screaming, Ferrell plays Phil Weston, a vitamin shop owner turned coach of his sons youth soccer team. Phil takes over a hapless team that not only struggles to win a game but to even score a goal. In his first practice with the team, Phil character decides to get to know the players a little better. As the players go around in a circle saying their names two individuals take center stage. Byong Sun, a 3 foot nothing forward on the team, and Ambrose, a freakish giant of a kid, step to center stage…

  • The Craziest Thing I Have Ever Seen

    Kyle Reed
    31 Aug 2010 | 8:25 am
    What if I told you I could give you a flat washboard stomach in three easy steps? You would probably look at me and realize that it is not that simple. You know the effort that goes into getting washboard abs, the pain that it takes to do thousands of sit-ups, and the frustration of not eating ice cream after dinner. It is not easy, it actually is the farthest thing from easy. The idea that you could look better after completing three easy steps makes it appealing, but does not necessarily make it true. In some senses, it also devalues the message. Instead of putting a price on something, we…

  • How To Make Sure You Are Not Crazy

    Kyle Reed
    30 Aug 2010 | 7:10 am
    Do you ever wonder if you are crazy? I do all the time. If you are like me, being crazy is not something that you want to be known for. We tend to run things through a couple of test to make sure that we are up to par with others. One of the best known techniques is the comparison game. This one is pretty simple, look at others and make sure you are better then them. Maybe this is why gossip exist, or for that matter reality TV, but comparing yourself to others is one way to make sure that you are not crazy. Another great technique is to follow the crowd. Instead of forming an identity, you…

  • Best 50 Websites of 2010

    Kyle Reed
    26 Aug 2010 | 7:08 am
    Have you seen the list from Time Magazine covering the 50 Best Websites of 2010? Here is the list Couple of my favorites: Grooveshark Groupon The Onion TED What about you? *kyle Please help make this post, Best 50 Websites of 2010 a whole lot better by adding some value to the conversation by leaving a comment. This is a post from: Standing On Giants - Looking to Stand on the Shoulders of Giants

  • Why Do You Go To Church To Be Someone Else?

    Kyle Reed
    23 Aug 2010 | 11:51 am
    This is a very interesting question to me that I have thought about but have not thought thought about: If Christians can’t be who they are within their own churches, why are they even a part of church? Why not go someplace where they can be themselves? I think this question might be more impacting to ministers. But I would like to hear your thoughts. *kyle Please help make this post, Why Do You Go To Church To Be Someone Else? a whole lot better by adding some value to the conversation by leaving a comment. This is a post from: Standing On Giants - Looking to Stand on the Shoulders of…
 
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    Heart Choices

  • Surprises to Share

    1 Sep 2010 | 9:34 am
    Most of you who read Heart Choices know that I'm headed to Florida tomorrow for my niece Kristin's wedding. I can't wait to see Kristin and Katie's faces.  It's just been too long since I last spent time with them.  Katie and I went on a trip to New York City in 2006.  She graduated from beauty school and moved to Brooklyn. She now works in a hair salon in Manhattan and has gained lots of great experience. She's going to do her Aunt Debbie's hair!  I'm so excited to have my highlights done.  All I can say is that I now know what my true hair color is since I've not…

  • Looking Forward to a Wedding

    31 Aug 2010 | 5:10 pm
    Guess who's getting married this Saturday? I can still remember Kristin as a little girl.  What would she be like when she grew up?She can be a goofball at times.  That's Kristin on the left and Katie on the right.  And yes, that's Uncle Greg and Aunt Debbie having fun too.The last wedding we attended together was when my sister got married.  That was 14 years ago today.  Happy Anniversary Christine and Pat! When Kristin graduated high school, I took her to New York City for a week.  We had a blast and she got her picture taken with a few…

  • Kristin is Getting Married

    30 Aug 2010 | 2:55 pm
    My niece Kristin is getting married this Saturday.  I can hardly believe how fast the time has gone by.  She was born just one month before Greg and I got married.  She is 25 years old. She was so excited when she became a big sister.  Here she is holding Katie.  And to think that Katie is going to be her maid of honor. Sometimes Kristin can be so cute!And sometimes she can be a little rascal!I wish that my mom was still alive to see Kristin and Kevin get married. My mom always had a way with babies.  She could do baby talk so well and could always get…

  • I'm Still Praising the Lord

    29 Aug 2010 | 10:54 pm
    I continue to participate in eLisa's Praise the Lord in this moment at Extravagant Grace. Our praise challenge for this week is to do a search on the word praise on Bible Gateway.  The Scripture that spoke to my heart was: Psalm 40:3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.  Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.We were also asked to post a praise song. Here's mine: There's nothing like speaking the name of Jesus as I'm praising Him in this moment.  It helps me to keep my eyes on Him, especially when life isn't going along as I…

  • TSMSS ~ Wedding Songs

    28 Aug 2010 | 12:24 am
    I have weddings on my mind this week.  I attended a bridal shower on Tuesday.  If you didn't read my post, you can read it here.  Jessica's wedding will take place at the end of September. However, my niece Kristin is getting married to Kevin one week from today!  I am getting so excited.  Kristin is like a daughter to me. It's so hard for me to believe she's grown up so quickly.  Here she is when she was little and taking ballet lessons.  Isn't she cute? And here she is all grown up.  This was one of her profile pictures on Facebook that I…
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    Captain's Blog

  • Things that make you go “Hmm” part 45 - Krazy

    Chad Estes
    28 Aug 2010 | 7:33 pm

  • Home Alone

    Chad Estes
    26 Aug 2010 | 10:49 pm
    Today started very early in our household. My wife was up at the crack of dawn to head to her new nursing job. I think she was primping in the bathroom mirror for a few minutes with our oldest daughter, who was heading out to a zero hour class at high school. The middle children were moving in the kitchen when my alarm went off. They ran through their morning procedures and then biked to their perspective schools. I descended into the basement to rouse the youngest, who is thankful for the later start at the elementary school. He was sleeping so soundly and I had to increase my volume three…

  • Won’t You Be My Neighbor? - A modern day interpretation of one of Jesus’ offensive stories

    Chad Estes
    23 Aug 2010 | 11:41 am
    A religious scholar asked Jesus a question, to test his adherence to the law. “Teacher, what do I need to do to ensure I will live forever?” Jesus answered his question with a question, “How do you interpret the scriptures?” The scholar, taken back that now he was on the hot seat, took a moment before answering, “That you love the Lord your God with all your passion, that you pray, that you serve God with your whole life—and that you love your neighbor as much as you do yourself.” “Great answer!” said Jesus. “Do it and you will live.” Not satisfied,…

  • Rulers Make Bad Lovers - Stevie Nicks on the illusions of Love

    Chad Estes
    20 Aug 2010 | 12:05 pm
    I woke up this morning with Fleetwood Mac’s song “Gold Dust Woman” already playing over and over in my head. Not only does this song have haunting music, but Stevie Nick’s lyrics are beautiful, moving, and open for interpretation (she says she isn’t even sure what all she meant when she penned the words). A couple of lines from the song stick with me like the beat of the opening cowbell: They say rulers, they make bad lovers You’d better put your kingdom up for sale The way I see it, intimacy is never born in an environment of control but one of honesty and vulnerability.

  • Jesus is Just Alright… at Songwriting - A review of The Red Letters Project

    Chad Estes
    19 Aug 2010 | 2:20 pm
    “What’s so funny?” Jesus asks when he comes into my study finding me laughing. “This new, music album of yours!” I respond. “Album?” “Ya, this ‘Red Letters Project’ from the Book of Matthew.” “I have no idea what you are talking about.” “Well, Matthew was one of the original 12 ragamuffins that followed you around Judea. I think he was a tax collector or something.” “I know who Matthew is. Don’t be insolent.” “Sorry, Jesus.” “You’re forgiven. Again.” “I’m curious. Why don’t you make the sign of the cross when you say that?” “It would be…
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    missional space

  • Explore, Discover, Forge..the path to church planting

    Grady
    8 Aug 2010 | 11:26 pm
    So you hop off the plane…within a few days get over jet lag….and then you ask….How do I plant a church here?  It’s one thing when you join an existing team with an existing strategy….but what about when you land somewhere and have to start everything from scratch.  I have a friend who uses these terms to describe overall strategy ideas…but I thought, what if we used them for the process of leading to a Christian movement…church-planting…whatever you may want to call it. Here’s what I came up with for the overall themes.

  • I’m here…now what?

    Grady
    3 Aug 2010 | 3:40 am
    The journey started over a year ago…the move from one part of the world to another.  There were countless obstacles to be overcome…and one by one we moved closer. The calling remained the same…be on mission….but everything else changed.  And now…we’re here…. The bags are unpacked…language classes start soon…we’re starting to feel comfortable getting around….now what?  So far in our overseas experience we’ve always joined existing teams…with existing strategies…with histories.  This time….we’re…

  • let’s give this another try

    Grady
    2 Aug 2010 | 3:08 am
    Hi blog…I’m Grady.  So sorry I have neglected you the last few months.  I’ve been kind of busy…and well….you had kind of become a drag on me.  You see…mr. blog although I’m grateful that you allow me to say whatever I want…I sometimes take advantage of this.  The result is that I can quickly become jaded and negative….and neither is what I want to be.  So…. I’m going to give this another try…and try to take it another direction and see what happens.  Alot had changed over the last few months…we’ve been…

  • Tim Keller on New Questions facing the Western Church

    Grady
    1 Jun 2010 | 2:21 am
    Here are 5 questions Tim Keller presents that he says face the American church. Here’s his outline: The opportunity for extensive culture-making in the U.S. The rise of Islam The new non-Western Global Christianity The growing cultural remoteness of the gospel in our society The end of prosperity? Here are 5 suggestions he gives about how to answer. Here’s that outline. The local church has to support culture-making. We need a renewal of apologetics. We also need to read J.D. Greear’s new book, Breaking the Islam Code. (JD added this one) We need a great variety of church models. We…

  • TOMS shoes and charity:water

    Grady
    28 May 2010 | 2:24 am
    TOMS Shoes & charity:water are partnering on a new shoe! Now you can give a child shoes & build a well in one shot – kill two enemies of the developing world with one stone. Proceeds from the TOMS Shoes for charity: water sales will raise money to build a clean-water well in the village of Sekura in North West Ethiopia. Sekura is home to 540 residents and among the largest Ethiopian villages to not currently have ready access to clean water. The hand dug well will provide villagers with safe drinking water for the next 20 years. BEST OF ALL, everyone who purchases a pair of TOMS…
 
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    Tea With Tiffany

  • Use Your Sword

    Tea with Tiffany
    2 Sep 2010 | 10:09 am
    You, my friend, have what it takes to pierce the darkness. Use your sword. After all, that's what it's there for. Someone needs that powerful, life-changing Word.Go and speak truth in love.Be a light in a dark world today.For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV)

  • Stop, Look and Listen: No Dumping

    Tea with Tiffany
    31 Aug 2010 | 10:25 am
    Two days ago I ran into WalMart to get a few things for a barbecue. I picked the shortest line of course. The next thing I know the cashier's light started flashing. All the while, a mother and her teenage daughter stood behind me. For ten minutes straight, this mom complained. And I don't just mean a light complaint, I mean serious business. This mom went on and on about everything she hated about the place. Not enough cashiers. Prices going up because of remodel. How you get stuck in there because no one is competent. You name it she said it. This lady had the chip of all chips on her…

  • Sweet P's: Prayer, Petition & Praise

    Tea with Tiffany
    27 Aug 2010 | 12:00 am
    Here we are again serving up another round of tasty Sweet P's. Thank you all for joining me by writing your P's (prayer, petition or/praise) and linking up. I feel like I have an online prayer group. I love it! YOU are an answer to my prayers. :)Father God, what an amazing week You've blessed me with. What joy it was to see You show up in jail on Sunday. Thank You for allowing me to be a part of this much needed ministry to those behind bars, Youth for Christ Ministries. Troubled youth need hope just like the rest of us do. We've ALL fallen short of the glory of God.Thank You for giving me a…

  • Funny Video from My Girl- Or Sweet Depending on Your Perspective

    Tea with Tiffany
    25 Aug 2010 | 9:03 am
    After yesterday's vulnerable post about healing from sexual abuse, I thought I would shift gears and share a moment that still blesses my mommy heart.This is my girl Hannah when she was about four. As you know she's 13 now. Recently we re-watched old videos. Oh how I miss these days. But I am loving our current days together.(And yes, she's cool with me sharing this..)1. Listen to Hannah's cute English sounding accent. 2. Listen to the funny phrase she says about God. About 1 min. 15 secs in. WHAT DID SHE SAY GOD DOES? LOLShe still makes me SMILE!

  • Healing from Sexual Abuse

    Tea with Tiffany
    24 Aug 2010 | 10:57 am
    (WARNING: LONG post. 1100 words +/-. Too long for most blog readers. No pressure to read. I feel led to post here regardless of its length. Thank you for understanding.)(ANOTHER WARNING: NOT family friendly because of nature of topic)My daughter turned thirteen last week. The day after her big party I met a friend for coffee and cried. Not just any cry, the ugly cry. Not because Hannah was a teenager but because my girl was the age I was when I was sexually abused. It’s a flashback seeing your child the age you were when life changed forever.As many of you know, I’ve been asking God for…
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    Here I Blog

  • Book Review: Why I Still Believe

    Mark
    2 Sep 2010 | 8:11 am
    Boot, Joe. Why I Still Believe: (Hint: It’s the Only Way the World Makes Sense). Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2006. 159 pages. The Christian faith is more than an intellectual or emotional assent to believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is an objective, rational faith in Jesus Christ. First Peter 3:15 calls upon Christians to be ready to give a defense of why they believe. This is the practice of apologetics. Joe Boot goes one step further explaining why he still believes by sharing his life story as a Christian while providing a rational defense along the way. Joe Boot is an apologist,…

  • Ethics: Excluding A Single Parent from Church Membership

    Mark
    1 Sep 2010 | 8:13 am
    What would you do Wednesday! The scenario is that a single mother is a member of your local church. For several years she seemed to be living faithfully for Christ. She was present on Sunday morning and often during other church events. It was difficult for her at times and the church even helped her financially and with food when she needed help. Then, to your surprise she moved in with a non-Christian man! Church leaders begged her to repent and to move back out and get out of her relationship with this man. She would not. Several months went by. Finally, it was time to vote as a church.

  • Thoughts on Moore on Glenn Beck and the Gospel

    Mark
    30 Aug 2010 | 7:37 am
    Glenn Beck as been a recent driving force for (neo?) Conservative politics in America. His big push is to bring God back to the center of American life both politically and socially. I understand his sentiment. There is a sense in which I agree. In recent times when Glenn Beck has spoken on the issue of putting God back into American culture he mentions God, Jesus, the atonement, etc. On the surface, these sound like something Christians should embrace. And they should as far as understood from the biblical Christian perspective. Yet, Glenn Beck is a Mormon and the Mormon definitions of these…

  • Lord’s Day 08/29 Pass Me Not

    Mark
    28 Aug 2010 | 8:11 am
    Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior Pass me not, O gentle Savior, Hear my humble cry; While on others Thou art calling, Do not pass me by. Savior, Savior, Hear my humble cry; While on others Thou art calling, Do not pass me by. Let me at Thy throne of mercy Find a sweet relief, Kneeling there in deep contrition; Help my unbelief. Trusting only in Thy merit, Would I seek Thy face; Heal my wounded, broken spirit, Save me by Thy grace. Thou the Spring of all my comfort, More than life to me, Whom have I on earth beside Thee? Whom in Heav’n but Thee? [Fan­ny Cros­by, 1868.] Related…

  • Friday Favorites 08/27

    Mark
    27 Aug 2010 | 7:35 am
    Giveaway: A Pastor’s Sketches by Ichabod Spencer – Don’t forget about the giveaway! Reinvesting Pain – A week late on my part, but Rozie gives another well written, insightful piece on suffering. (In case you miss the sermon she linked to – it’s here.) Kiss Me? Addressing God in Worship – Matt Redman encourages us to think carefully about the language used in worship. African-Americans, Women and Southerners Talk and Text The Most in the U.S. – A cellphone usage survey by the Nielsen Company which analyzes more than 60,000 U.S. cellphone bills each…
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    daveingland.com

  • The paralyzing sting of failure

    daveingland
    23 Aug 2010 | 5:40 am
    Having failed at my first experience as a church planter, I feel like I am sort of handicapped. I’m feeling a bit paralyzed and it is such a foreign feeling for me. My mind is full of ideas and my feet feel ready for action, but something within me puts the brakes on things even before I get moving. In the past, some of the ideas I have would have been enough to force me to jump to my feet and take off running as fast as I could toward the finish line. Now, having gone through failure and never wanting to experience that again, I feel remiss at times because I won’t move forward…

  • It’s never enough

    daveingland
    17 Aug 2010 | 5:33 am
    No matter what we do, the reality is that it’s never enough. We will always come up short somewhere. Things can always take an unexpected turn for the worst. As a former atheist, I bore the burden of everything on my own. The goal was always to be the best. There was no one who remembered those that came in second or finished last. I lived in that world for almost 38 years. I was always trying to outdo even my own self. When I first came to comprehend the reality and awe of the voice of God, I was not at some low point. I had accomplished much and had the respect of many. Money talked…

  • Love Letter: I never imagined I’d be writing this

    daveingland
    12 Aug 2010 | 5:24 am
    Dear Father God, You fooled me. You surrounded me with people that believed with every ounce of breath they had in them that you were not real. You were fiction and the Bible was a fairy tale. Your son was born from a virgin, which I knew from biology class was impossible. You gave me to be adopted by parents that spoke negatively about Christians and the church. You let them teach me that being a good person was important and that I could be the best at anything if I tried hard enough. When I became an adult, you led me to become engaged to marry someone that told me that if I just called…

  • Love Letter: I owe so much to you!

    daveingland
    11 Aug 2010 | 5:51 am
    Dear Friends, I’ve said it many times, in many ways, but you have my unwavering love for eternity. You were there when I needed you, and even when I didn’t you made your presence known. You cared for me deeply and never judged me. You were compassion and strength when I needed it most. Some of you share my faith, and some of you do not, but in the end all of you remind me of what it’s like to know Christ. You lift me up when I am down, you help me through when I can barely stand, you cause me to want to be more like you. I do not deserve you. I do not know what you see in…

  • Love Letter: Dear John

    daveingland
    10 Aug 2010 | 5:28 am
    Dear John (or Charity: Water or Doctors Without Borders or Compassion International, etc.), My heart goes out to you. When I hear the stories of those people you aid I want to applaud you. I want to partner with you. I want to support you financially. However, I have just come to realize that right now, it’s best if we don’t try to get too close. Please understand, it’s not you, it’s me. You see, I’ve just come to the realization today that as much as I thought I loved you, I really do not. My lips speak words of passion and I shout about you from the rooftops,…
 
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    Rediscovering the Church

  • Things to do in Denver When You’re Alive?

    Peter P
    18 Aug 2010 | 11:23 am
    This coming Monday is our thirteenth wedding anniversay. To celebrate, I’m taking my wife away to Denver, Colorado (thanks to Hilton Hhonors hotel points). We’re going to be away for four nights, which will be the longest we’ve been away from our kids since we had our first almost eight years ago. This is also going to be our first time away from them for more than a night since in three years. I am SO looking forward to it! Anyway, we’ve never been to Denver before and I’ve been researching things to do there and have a long list of possible activities but I was…

  • You Can’t Use That Here

    Peter P
    17 Aug 2010 | 12:25 am
    A friend of mine once bought a brand new home. He picked the floor plan and excitedly watched as the builders applied their various crafts and created him his dream home. The home came with a builder’s warranty, which warranted it against defects in construction for something like 10 years. Some time after he bought the home, he was feeling a little flush with cash so he went out to his local electronics store to buy a new flat-screen TV, surround sound system and all the appropriate DVD players and TV decoders. When he came to check out at the store, he had to give his address to the…

  • Customer Service is an Art Form

    Peter P
    16 Aug 2010 | 10:46 am
    We shouldn’t treat people in our communities as ‘customers’, they’re not sources of income and profit for us, but we are called to serve and we can learn a lot from customer service experts on how to serve others. Today, I have the honor of writing for Michael Perkins over on his blog. Head on over there to see what I have learned about customer service and how we can apply it as the Church: Customer Service is an Art Form Share this post:

  • Do You Ignore Your Wealth?

    Peter P
    9 Aug 2010 | 12:01 am
    I read last week about a woman named Huguette Clark whose life is very much of a mystery. Now aged 103, Miss Clark is likely a billionaire – although no-one outside of her very, very small circle of friends knows for sure. Her father was Senator William A. Clark, a self-made millionaire who became possibly the second richest man in America and who died in 1925, aged 86. Miss Clark eventually inherited much of his fortune, it seems, but slipped quietly out of the public eye in the 1930’s and has not been seen or heard from much ever since. What is known is that she owns an 15,000…

  • Gabe Taviano – a Modern Day Hero of the Faith (Part 2)

    Peter P
    6 Aug 2010 | 12:01 am
    Today, is the second and final part of my interview with Gabe Taviano. Check out yesterday’s post for part one and to learn a little about who Gabe is but in short, he’s a web designer, creative genius, husband, father and photographer who manages to be a man of God in all of those things. Here’s Part Two of his interview: Gabe, you’ve started a project called Digital Disciples, which takes up some of your time but you don’t get paid for it. Tell me, Why do you do that? Why do stuff you’re not getting paid for when extra income would really help a lot? Like…
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    Coffee Shop Journal

  • Life is so messy!

    marla
    29 Aug 2010 | 6:18 pm
    No, this isn't Toby. But it sure looks like him! There are some phases of life that are all about cleaning up messes. Oh, they are beautiful phases — make no mistake — but they are so messy. Babies create nothing but messes, which is hard to understand since they can’t even move around on their own power! Toddlers expand that mess-making to an artform. As the kids get older, their messes get, well, messier. Your house may stay cleaner, but oh there are so many other kinds of messes. All of them, however, are messes that are important to becoming the grown-up they were…

  • Kisses from God

    marla
    12 Aug 2010 | 5:07 pm
    My brothers Jeff (left) and Garth (right) I’ve spent some time today thinking about my brothers. I had two of them, 6 and 8 years older than I. They tortured me and I loved it. I tattled on them and they didn’t love it. They were great brothers. Both of them are gone now, and have been gone for many years. But somehow it doesn’t matter how long they’ve been gone, I miss them. You see, last year my older brother Jeff would have been welcoming his first grandbaby, the beautiful Lucy Belle, into his family. And any day now my other brother Garth would be welcoming Laila…

  • Embrace Me

    marla
    12 Aug 2010 | 7:47 am
    Embrace Me, by Lisa Samson The hidden secret, the one no one wants to talk about, is that we are all broken. It’s true, isn’t it? Pick out the super star, the guy or gal or couple that seems to have it all. Find the person who, by whatever standard you can imagine, seems to be on top of the heap. Spend some time with that person. Spend good time, quality time. Begin sharing your hearts. And you will find that underneath there is a person who has been beaten up by the world in one way or another. Because we are all broken. We just don’t all want to admit it. This summer I…

  • Feeling at home in your home?

    marla
    25 Jul 2010 | 7:58 pm
    When I was ten or so, my best friend lived a few streets over and her home felt to me like my home. We’d ride our bikes back and forth at the smallest whim. I remember one summer hopping on my bike because “Benny and the Jets” was on the radio, and it was our favorite song EVER. It was still on when I burst through her back door and shared the last bars of the song with her. Of course, those were the days when you couldn’t just hit play on your iPod and enjoy the song over again. You’d better live in the moment and rock out while Benny and the Jets was playing or…

  • The Third Place and Home

    marla
    20 Jul 2010 | 8:18 am
    I got home this week. It’s odd, really, because I’ve also been home all month. I’ve been home in our condo in Lexington, or on the lake in New Hampshire where I’ve spent nearly every summer of my life. I breathe in the fresh air of those places and my inner sense of being profoundly at home is magnified. And then I arrive back in Palm Beach Gardens, my own home, my real home. I love the process of wandering through my rooms to see the bits and pieces of my life. I enjoy seeing what has changed (lots of people in and out of our home, even when we are gone!) and what has…
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    sound of a soft breath

  • E100: 073 | Shake Up and Scatter

    Brad
    2 Sep 2010 | 6:34 am
    "In our passage today in Acts chapter 6 verse 8 to chapter 8 verse 8 we meet the first Christian Martyr. Stephen was a man full of grace and power whose message was accompanied by signs and wonders. When false accusation arose against him, he recounted how Jewish history pointed to the Messiah. When he proclaimed that Christ had risen from the dead they became furious. At this point Stephen was given the ability to see into heaven. He saw the risen Christ at the right hand of God in his glory. When he reported this vision, those around him stoned him to death. Stephen reminds us that we need…

  • E100: 072 | Simply Undeniable!

    Brad
    1 Sep 2010 | 6:01 am
    "In today’s passage, in Acts chapter 3 verses 1 to chapter 4 verse 37 we read of a man who had been born lame who received his healing through the ministry of John and Peter. This astounded those who saw the former lame man walking. Peter seeing his opportunity, boldly preached the word concerning the resurrection of Christ to them. This outraged the Jewish authorities who told Peter and John not to preaching the gospel. Upon hearing of this the early church asked the Lord to give them even greater boldness to proclaim Christ. They also looked to the Lord to confirm the word they proclaimed…

  • E100: 071 | From One Place to One Spirit

    Brad
    31 Aug 2010 | 6:19 am
    "Today in Acts chapter 2 verses 1 to 47 we focus on the account of the birth of the church as found in Acts 2. The history of the church begins with the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. On that day ordinary men and women were filled with the Holy Spirit. As a result they began to be transformed by the power of the Spirit and began to be built into a community. A community that bears witness to the reality that the Lord Jesus Christ has conquered death and offers salvation to all who believe in him." (New Zealand's Rhema Radio) Read Acts 2:1-46 | (ESV) When the Feast of…

  • E100: 070 | One by One

    Brad
    30 Aug 2010 | 5:50 am
    "In today’s reading, in Acts chapter 1 verses 1 to 11 we learn that after the resurrection, Jesus gave his followers many proofs that he was alive. Jesus’ teaching continued to focus on the Kingdom of God. His followers would be able to continue the ministry and teaching of Jesus after they had received the Holy Spirit and his power. Jesus gave his followers a blueprint for ministry. They were to minister where they were, to their nearby neighbours, and to the entire world. After saying these things Jesus ascended into heaven." (New Zealand's Rhema Radio) Read Acts 1:1-11 | (ESV) After…

  • E100: 069 | I Have Not Seen and Yet Have Believed

    Brad
    27 Aug 2010 | 6:01 am
    "Today, in John chapter 20 verse 1 to chapter 21 verse 25 we learn that Mary Magdalene, John and Peter were the first to discover that Jesus had conquered death by rising from the dead. Shortly afterwards, the Lord appeared to Mary Magdalene and announced that he was to ascend to the Father. Jesus continued to prove his resurrection by performing many signs and wonders. Because Jesus rose from the dead, death is not an end but promotion to a resurrected eternal life." (New Zealand's Rhema Radio) Read John 20:1-21:25 | (ESV) Now Thomas (also known as Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with…
 
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    Thank Christ

  • Birthday (August 31)

    Jon Batarse
    31 Aug 2010 | 1:06 am
    JESUS THANK YOU FOR YOU. I LIVE TO SEE ANOTHER YEAR BECAUSE OF YOU I LOVE YOU WITH MY WHOLE HEART YOU GAVE TO ME. GLORY BE TO YOU BECAUSE EVERYDAY IS YOUR BIRTHDAY.

  • Give Me Strength

    Give Thanks!
    25 Aug 2010 | 9:55 pm
    Thank You Christ for giving me the strength after my illness and my stay at the hospital.I realized how much I take my health for granted. You have awakened me to the fact that I ran myself phisically and emotionally so down that I couldn’t tell the difference between work, play, fellowship or time-out. Please help me to take things slow and in perspective to better serve you, myself and my loved ones around me. Thank You Jesus for healing me and please help me do the right things so that I will NOT go through this again.

  • Grandbaby

    Give Thanks!
    22 Aug 2010 | 9:53 pm
    Thank you Christ for my grandbaby. I look at her and see your face, what an awsome gift You have blessed us all with. Thank you Jesus.

  • Grateful for Losing My Job

    Give Thanks!
    19 Aug 2010 | 9:51 pm
    Due to the economy I lost my full-time church job in January. God has used these months to provide in surprising ways, to teach us new stewardship practices, and to draw us closer to Himself. He has given me more time with my bride and my kids and our marriage has been strengthened. I still don’t have a job, but I trust that He is working behind the scenes and I KNOW that He has been working center stage in the ways I described above. He is also using this time to put me in a different kind of position so that we can get involved with Him in other ways.

  • Heaven

    Give Thanks!
    18 Aug 2010 | 9:06 am
    Thank Christ for the amazing promise of Heaven!
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    BibleDude.net

  • [the #haiti diaries] through vivian’s eyes

    Vivian Linder
    31 Aug 2010 | 7:10 am

  • @theideacamp sexual orientation week wrap-up [#ICSEX]

    Dan King
    30 Aug 2010 | 7:10 am
    Why did this week’s blogging series have to be one of the most awkward that I’ve ever been a part of? Seriously… I was blown away by how much people opened up during weeks like PORN WEEK and ABUSE WEEK. But now it seems that we’re talking about homosexuality, I know that even the strongest participants in this project mentioned to me that it was a very tough one to write about. That tells me that this is probably one of the more important issues we need to be discussing in the church. This week was ORIENTATION WEEK, the fourth of the six-week series of discussions on…

  • how to cure homosexuality? [#ICSEX]

    Dan King
    26 Aug 2010 | 7:10 am
    What I’m about to share is something that turns my stomach. I’m not writing today to debate what’s right or wrong about homosexuality. There are theologians who are way smarter than me that do a good enough job with keeping that discussion going. I don’t want to talk about whether or not someone is ‘born that way’. There have been lots of studies that try to prove and disprove that point. Right or wrong, avoidable or not, I want to talk about how the church addresses the issue of homosexuality. I’ve recently read an article in a magazine that I…

  • @theideacamp gender week wrap-up [#ICSEX]

    Dan King
    18 Aug 2010 | 11:00 am
    I’d first like to start with an apology. My mission trip to Haiti impaired my ability to keep up with certain aspects of this project more that I anticipated. Nonetheless, there were some incredible posts that came in! This week was GENDER WEEK, the third of the six-week series of discussions on various sex-related topics. As you look through each of the posts in this series, I hope that you see a bit of a trend emerging. At first glance it would seem that the posts are overly skewed towards the discussion of female gender roles and issues. However, I definitely learned a great deal…

  • #haiti mission twitter updates for 2010-08-15

    Dan King
    15 Aug 2010 | 11:00 pm
    NEW POST: #haiti mission twitter updates for 2010-08-14: – NEW POST: #haiti mission twitter… http://goo.gl/fb/RywTQ # We’re loading up the bus with our bags now. One stop at a church service and then we’re off to the airport. Hard to say goodbye… #haiti # It’s difficult to see some of the orphan boys tearing up as our team boarded the bus to leave. #hardtosaygoodbye #haiti # It was a wonderful church service this morning, but we’re on the bus now on the way to the airport. #itshardtosaygoodbye #haiti # At the departure gate in the Port-au-Prince airport.
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    Biblical Preaching

  • Does It Make Sense?

    Peter Mead
    1 Sep 2010 | 11:43 pm
    It seems obvious, but it needs to be said.  When we speak we need to make sure we make sense.  There are various reasons why we may not make sense to our listeners.  Here are a few to be aware of: 1. Obscure Language - If you obfuscate using technical, rare or archaic vocabulary, then you will lose folks.  They will probably still compliment you on your “deep” message, but be alert enough to spot the implication of that encouraging feedback! 2. Unknown Illustrations - Yourillustration from the world of online war games, submarine technology, chinese martial arts, Finnish…

  • Preaching and Training

    Peter Mead
    31 Aug 2010 | 8:29 am
    I am a huge advocate for biblical preaching.  But I don’t think preaching covers all the bases as far as training and equipping is concerned.  It would be naive to think that a sermon or two every week for decades will equip a church As leaders of churches we need to think carefully about the place of small groups, of seminars, of training sessions, of mentoring . . . and somehow figure out how to do that without overcrowding the weekly schedule. Think too of subjects that probably won’t, or won’t easily get addressed, in normal preaching.  How does the big story of the…

  • Points of Pride

    Peter Mead
    30 Aug 2010 | 12:30 am
    I suspect that if we’re honest, we’d all admit that preaching leads to numerous battles with pride.  Perhaps not every time, perhaps not in the same way as each other, but there is an inherent danger that points of pride will peek through when we preach.  Much of this may be an internal battle unseen by others except the Lord.  But sometimes in our preaching we do things that can reveal, or be perceived to be, pride peeking through.  A few examples: 1. References to “scholastic matters” – You know what I mean, the extra reference to a dispute among…

  • Sad Separations

    Peter Mead
    26 Aug 2010 | 10:43 pm
    Here are three separations often occurring in pulpits that are sad, to say the least: The separation of leadership and preaching – I’ve mentioned this before, probably after reading Michael Quicke’s 360-Degree Leadership.  In some churches, especially those that have to, or choose to, rely on visiting speakers, there is an unfortunate separation of preaching from leadership.  The result tends to be preaching that is informative, perhaps even impressive, but not truly pastoral. The separation of theology and application – It’s sad to see a situation where the…

  • Where Does Christ Fit?

    Peter Mead
    25 Aug 2010 | 11:27 pm
    When you are preaching the Old Testament, there should always be a radar bleeping in your heart regarding where Christ fits into the message.  Some will suggest that every message must be entirely and purely about Christ, whatever the text was originally intended to convey.  I feel this approach can bring our view of the inspiration of Scripture into disrepute. Not every Old Testament passage is just about Christ. I know that Jesus took two disciples on a tour of the Old Testament on the road to Emmaus, but I’d also like to point out that that road is only 7 miles long!  We need to…
 
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    MaxGrace

  • Grace in Action

    maxgrace
    2 Sep 2010 | 10:21 am
    So, if you watched/heard/read last weekend’s sermon, you might ask, HEY BILL, HOW DOES THIS WORK OUT IN REAL LIFE? Great question… let’s dive in. I’m suggesting that we replace the phrase GOOD WORKS with the phrase GOD WORKS THRU ME. What comes to mind when most Christians think “good works” is NOT what God intended. It is not a burden on your back. It is not the production of your own power. It is, rather, the work of God through you. But how does this happen? And what does it feel like?  St Paul nails its (as always): Him we preach, warning every man and…

  • Grace!

    maxgrace
    30 Aug 2010 | 4:12 pm
    Filed under: Bill Giovannetti, Grace, Maxgrace, Theology

  • Dear Anne Rice

    maxgrace
    31 Jul 2010 | 4:20 am
    “For those who care, and I understand if you don’t: Today I quit being a Christian. I’m out. I remain committed to Christ as always but not to being “Christian” or to being part of Christianity. It’s simply impossible for me to “belong” to this quarrelsome, hostile, disputatious, and deservedly infamous group. For ten years, I’ve tried. I’ve failed. I’m an outsider. My conscience will allow nothing else.” (From Anne Rice’s Facebook page) Dear Ms Rice, One of the qualities I love about you is your transparency.

  • Dear Mel Gibson,

    maxgrace
    16 Jul 2010 | 5:10 am
    I’ve been around the block enough to know not to judge a man by his reaction to crazy-making family dysfunction. Yeah, there’s a thin line between love and hate; I get it. Some of the best men I know lost their minds they day the lost their children. Or when they felt the knife in the back from the woman they loved. Literally, they lost their minds. I’ve seen it happen. I hear that pain in your jacked up phone calls. Just so I can put my cards on the table… I’ll say this right up front: there’s no justification, EVER, for intimidating, threatening, scaring,…

  • The Love Chapter (One More Time)

    maxgrace
    14 Jul 2010 | 7:20 am
    This post finishes a three-part series, so scroll down if you want to start at the beginning. Thanks. Recap: The Love Chapter (a.k.a. 1 Corinthians 13) wraps its theme in the broader theme of maturity. Paul argues that Christ-like love is the by-product of maturity. It’s hard to argue with the context: “when I was a child… when I became a man…” Have you ever loved an immature person?  It’s a lot of work. Have you ever loved AS an immature person? Your love endures until your next tantrum. The structure of the chapter is cool. The Love Chapter describes…
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    Dad In The Middle

  • The Art of Prayer (By My 2 Year Old)

    Wayne
    2 Sep 2010 | 6:00 am
    I’m still catching up on notifying you all about articles I published over on Ministry-to-Children.com. The article titled What Can a 2-Year Old Teach You About Prayer? was published on June 13, 2010. Brief Synopsis: In this post I share what my two year old Nathan taught me about prayer. It’s amazing what a toddler can teach you! Click here to read the entire article! You can find all the articles I’ve published on Ministry-to-Children.com at this page. Related posts:Does Quality Time Always Have to Be Spiritual Time? A Collection of Verses for Fathers The Centrality of Christ in…

  • Dad in the Middle: Plans for the Immediate Future

    Wayne
    1 Sep 2010 | 6:10 am
    Every once in a while, I like to step back and let the readers of this blog into my mind.  I know it can be a very scary place, but I’ll do my best to keep the lights on and keep this trip shorter than usual!  Relax, this is not another retrospective on this blog or a grand announcement of where we’re heading, but I did take some time during my Dark Week to reflect on blogging – what I do – and why I do it. I have always said, and still do, that I blog principally as a means of processing my own thoughts and recording my own walk with Jesus.  I find that writing things out…

  • Spotlight on our Sponsors – Christianity Cove

    Wayne
    31 Aug 2010 | 6:00 am
    About a month or so ago, I started to accept ads on this site to recover some of the cost of hosting, software, etc.  My hope has been, and continues to be, to find sponsors which the users of this site will find valuable.  I think I have been able to accomplish this, and I like our sponsors so much that I have decided to feature them from time to time on this site beginning with today. We begin Spotlight on our Sponsors with Christianity Cove.  Rather than wax eloquently on my own (right!), I decided to ask Mary-Kate Warner some questions about the site to give us a better idea what they…

  • Monday Morning Prophecy #41 – The Messiah Would be Called Lord

    Wayne
    30 Aug 2010 | 6:00 am
    Introduction The prophecies of the Old Testament indicate that the Messiah would be called Lord. While this may seem like a given to us today, the Old Testament leaves no doubt about the title of the coming Messiah. Old Testament Prophecy The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” [Psalm 110:1 NIV] New Testament Fulfillment While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” “The son of David,” they replied. He said to them, “How is it then that…

  • Wayne’s Weekly Twitter Digest – 2010-08-22 to 2010-08-28

    Wayne
    28 Aug 2010 | 9:05 pm
    Gotta say the Kidmin Panic Button add from @rogerfields is one of the most creative things I've seen in a while. I clicked it! #kidmin 23:12:04, 2010-08-28 If you could ask notable #kidmin leaders 1 question about #kidmin or volunteers, what would it be? #kidmin1124 #cmconnect #kidology #fammin 15:34:27, 2010-08-28 Check out the Intend Conference for church leaders: http://www.intendconference.org/ Looks like a great resource. 12:16:47, 2010-08-28 @evdoyle Maybe they're tracking which room in your house the book is in? in reply to evdoyle 12:03:53, 2010-08-28 RT @donmilleris: New…
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    Crossway

  • Video: “Church Planter”

    Staff
    2 Sep 2010 | 7:31 am
    Church Planter is now available. Check out this video that The Resurgence says “should be seen by every man.” “Church Planter” by Darrin Patrick from Crossway on Vimeo.

  • We Are All Worshipers

    Staff
    2 Sep 2010 | 6:00 am
    “Worship is unavoidable,” explains Darrin Patrick. “Whenever we stop worshiping God, we worship some kind of substitute instead of God.” In his chapter “Idol-Shattering” in Church Planter, Patrick helps explain and expose idolatry. The first idolatry: When Adam and Eve willfully placed their trust, significance, identity, security, and future in something other than God. When Paul describes the root of human rebellion, he talks about sin as not just a breaking of the law but rather as an exchange of worship: “[They] exchanged the glory of the immortal…

  • Preview “Church Planter”

    Staff
    1 Sep 2010 | 6:00 am
    There’s more to church planting than methodology and strategy. Darrin Patrick addresses the most vital part of a church plant—the church planter. His new book, Church Planter: The Man, The Message, The Mission, is a call for men to be biblically qualified in character, doctrinally sound, and daring in ministry in order to impact cities for the glory of God through the local church. What people are saying… Tim Keller: “Church planters should all read this.” Matt Chandler: “Whether you are considering planting a church or have been a pastor for decades I…

  • Live With Christopher Catherwood: The Evangelicals Beyond the Border

    Staff
    31 Aug 2010 | 12:29 pm
    Christopher Catherwood is live at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington DC discussing “The Evangelicals Beyond the Border: Who They Are, What They Believe, and Their Global Impact,” based on his new release The Evangelicals.  Tune in here August 31, 2010 from 7-8:30pm EST.

  • Video: Why I Wrote Unpacking Forgiveness

    Staff
    30 Aug 2010 | 10:47 am
    “I hadn’t been a pastor very long when I realized people were carrying around a lot of luggage,” explains Chris Brauns. “If I was going to shepherd them, I would have to help them through the stuff that they were carrying around.” Unpacking Forgiveness: Chris Brauns from Peacemaker Ministries on Vimeo. Learn more about Unpacking Forgiveness here or learn about Chris Brauns and his ministry here.
 
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    jonathancliff.com : Life, Ministry, and Life Again

  • People I’ve Met Online: Kenny Conley

    Jonathan Cliff
    2 Sep 2010 | 9:05 am
    Kenny Conley is proof that it’s a small world.  I did not officially meet the giant of a man (physically he’s like a giant tree…even in my own backyard) until 2009, but we’ve been dangerously close to meeting for years.  He lived in Tulsa, OK at the same time that I did in college.  He then lived in the DFW Metroplex for years at the very same time I did.  We both left churches in DFW around the exact same time, and even attended the Orange Conference in 2008 at the same time!  I remember Matt McKee telling me that I should visit with Kenny while I was there, but…

  • God’s Kids Worship Review and Giveaway

    Jonathan Cliff
    31 Aug 2010 | 9:35 am
    I am always on the search for good music in our Children’s Ministry environments.  If you take me to lunch sometime I’ll tell you about all the ones I love and hate!  So when Bob Singleton from God’s Kids Worship asked me to review something new that is being put out for Children’s Ministry…I was all over it.  Thanks Bob for sending along something so fun to look through.God’s Kids Worship is available in both CD Audio format and in the very popular DVD Video format.  I’ve looked through the Modern Worship Summer DVD and the Modern Worship CD…

  • Say Hello to Something New

    Jonathan Cliff
    30 Aug 2010 | 5:30 am
    Back in March I filled everyone in on the Beyond Project at Trinity Church.  Our church went through a long season of raising commitments from our church families to build into the future with new facilities.  Much of the project is devoted to new spaces for the Next Generations in Lubbock.  When our family was praying about what we could give as a family we picked a dollar figure that we would commit to give over the next three years.  However, this number was above what we could afford to give on a monthly basis.  So what were we thinking?  We wanted to put ourselves in a position to…

  • New Check-In Procedures

    Jonathan Cliff
    27 Aug 2010 | 5:30 am
    This weekend at Trinity Church we are kicking off a totally new way of doing check-in for our Elementary students.  I’m a HUGE advocate of self check-in, and this plan has worked for our Elementary areas for a few years now.  Due to our building setup this is NOT a security check-in system, it is a attendance check-in system.  We do not do any kind of check-out, and still rely on small group leaders and other leaders to help identify parents and others that have business in our Children’s areas.What’s different?Families can check-in using a RFID key tag.  Each family is…

  • People I’ve Met Online: Keith Geeding

    Jonathan Cliff
    26 Aug 2010 | 6:00 am
    I first read Keith’s blog over 5 years ago.  I believe I saw a funny picture that somebody had on their blog, and it pointed back to bagofnothing.com.  BON is a great link-blog, and it’s beginning to be filled more and more with the life of it’s author.  I recommend anybody wanting to waste hours of their day to see all the Internet goodness that Keith has gathered for his readers at www.bagofnothing.com.  Over the years I’ve learned that he hates windchimes, that most Baylor graduates annoy him, and he’s frustrated by people that don’t return their…
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    Christian Book Reviews

  • The Women In Jesus’ Life by Mindy Ferguson

    Lori
    1 Sep 2010 | 1:10 am
    Author: Mindy Ferguson Publisher: FaithWord Ministries (2010) Category:Bible Study Rating: 5 out of 5 stars **Be sure to read about the giveaway at the end** “Jesus felt the pain of those who grieved; spoke to the unacceptable; healed the sick; extended grace to the sinner; made the crippled whole.” This six week study on the women in Jesus’ life is one that demonstrates the compassion of a Savior. This bible study covers women Jesus encountered during his life and ministry. Each days lesson takes approximately 20 minutes to complete and there is a lesson for each of the…

  • Her Daughter’s Dream by Francine Rivers

    Lori
    1 Sep 2010 | 1:00 am
    Author: Francine Rivers Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers (2010) Category:Fiction Rating: 5 out of 5 stars Her Daughter’s Dream is the second in an epic two-book saga by author Francine Rivers. This emotional story explores the untold sorrows that can rip a family apart and about the grace and forgiveness that is available. Her Daughter’s Dream is the second of two historical novels in the Marta’s Legacy series, the first book was Her Mother’s Hope. Growing up isn’t easy for little Carolyn Arundel. With her mother, Hildemara, quarantined to her room with tuberculosis,…

  • Amish Proverbs: Words of Wisdom from the Simple Life by Suzanne Woods Fisher

    Lori
    25 Aug 2010 | 2:12 pm
    Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher Publisher: Revell (2010) Category:Gift Book Rating: 5 out of 5 stars **SEE BELOW TO WIN A KINDLE, BUT IF YOU DON’T WIN I AM GIVING ONE COPY OF AMISH PROVERBS AWAY BELOW** Winner: Iris Through firsthand research and personal relationships, Suzanne Woods Fisher has collected more than 200 proverbs that uncover the rich heritage, folklore, faith, values, history, and essence of the Plain People. These proverbs serve as teaching tools and maxims for practical living–but they’re not just for the Amish. They’re for anyone who seeks God’s…
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    Shooting the Breeze

  • 3 principles for resolving conflicts

    Kevin
    2 Sep 2010 | 10:07 am
    There was a church where the preacher and the song leader were not getting along. As time went by this began to spill over into the worship service . The first week the preacher preached on commitment and how we all should dedicate ourselves to the service of God. The song leader lead the song “I shall not be moved.” The second week the preacher preached on tithing and how well should gladly give to the work of the Lord. The song leader lead the song “Jesus Paid it all” The third week the preacher preached on gossiping and how we should all watch our tongues. The song leader led the…

  • Don't give up (you are loved)

    Kevin
    1 Sep 2010 | 9:48 am
    I have been tempted to give up many times in my life.  When I was a teenager I wanted to give up on everything in life because of intense internal turmoil.  When I was in college I wanted to give up on school when I couldn't finish my courses on time.  When I started my first job as a part time youth pastor I wanted to give up because it was brutally tough at times working two jobs.  When I went on my medical leave three years ago I wanted to give up because I couldn't see how I could function in my role as a pastor any more. I wish I could say that I persevered in all of…

  • How do you respond to issues when they arise?

    Kevin
    31 Aug 2010 | 10:17 am
    As most of you already know we just go back from a family vacation to Disneyland.  Disneyland is a fun and fabulous place to go.  It is the happiest place on earth you know (even though this was debatable at times;) Not only did we have fun there and make some great family memories, I also learned an important life lesson:  Deal with issues right away! One day we decided to ride Space Mountain (which is one of my favourite rides by the way!)  We waited in line and then it was our turn to ride.  We climbed into the roller coaster and were ready to go (so we thought)…

  • What did you do this summer?

    Kevin
    30 Aug 2010 | 8:49 am
    Today, we are finishing our journey home from our fabulous family vacation to California.  Two weeks ago, we drive to Victoria to enjoy a few days with my parents and then we flew to California to visit Lauren's sister and husband (and their new baby) in Irvine.  We spent the first five days just relaxing and enjoying some of the local surroundings. A highlight for me was going to Crystal Cove (a beautiful beach).  Here are some pics: The last five days of our vacation we spent at Disneyland! :)  We had such a wonderful time.  The waits were short and we got to do…

  • Link Love Sunday: Come shamelessly plug your blog!

    Kevin
    28 Aug 2010 | 9:04 pm
    Welcome to Link Love Sunday!  This is a weekly series where bloggers gather on Sunday's to share their own latest and greatest blog posts from the past week.  In other words, it's a place to shamelessly plug your blog! This is one small way for me to give back to the blogging community. I didn't write any posts this week because I was enjoying time with my family at Disneyland but I did have one guest by Duane Scott :) Here is his post (you better have a tissue handy): Smiling Through Tears. Now it's YOUR TURN! Here's what you need to do: 1. Pick one of YOUR posts from the past…
 
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    The Life. Spiritual Refreshment for Christians & the Christian Curious

  • The End of the Road

    13 Aug 2010 | 11:53 am
         When you reach the end of the road, you look around and start to think. Where have you been, how far did you go and where will you go next?      That's how I feel now with this final blog posting as Zetify's summer intern.       Over the summer I have...

  • New Study Credits Prayer For Making Marriages Stronger

    12 Aug 2010 | 8:25 am
         Earlier while on Twitter, I found someone retweet a Washington Post on article about prayer. Honestly, I wondered to myself "what have they said this time?"      But, I was surprised because I found that it actually gave prayer credit for making marriages stronger.     ...

  • Life Changes Fast... But Who Are You Letting Drive?

    11 Aug 2010 | 8:45 pm
         Often times you come across large life decisions. Is it time to sell your home, should you buy a new car, are you going into the right career? These are things we all will encounter along our days.      It's easy to jump into a decision to these questions, or any other and think...

  • What's on the bosses mind?

    5 Aug 2010 | 8:08 pm
         I recently stumbled upon the website: Letters of Note      The latest entry: http://www.lettersofnote.com/2010/08/tiger-oil-memos.html      It's a compilation of Tiger Oil Company Memos that were leaked and now roaming the internet. I...

  • Shark Week

    3 Aug 2010 | 5:52 pm
         I don't know about you, but I am a MAJOR fan of Shark Week on the Discovery Channel. Every year around when kids are about to go back to school, the week of the fish begins.      Now, if you haven't watched it before, Shark Week includes stories of shark attacks, bites, but...
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    RELEVANT Magazine

  • Spiritual Fast Food

    31 Aug 2010 | 12:47 pm
    I’m the first to admit that I love a good fast food meal. Am I allowed to call it a meal? Not sure, but I digress. I had a pretty good run for a while when I completely abstained from fast food and even found it to be distasteful. Ahh, those were the good old days, when I was a fast food snob (and 10 pounds skinnier). But life threw me a couple curve balls (a.k.a, a couple of kids) and everything changed. I no longer had time to cook healthy meals and eventually found any substantive food to be distasteful. It all flipped on me. I blame the evil franchises that make salty greasy food way…

  • Is This God's Voice or Mine?

    25 Aug 2010 | 7:12 am
    Why that still, small voice probably isn't God's—and that's OK. There’s a new evangelical theology out there, and it’s messing with our minds. I realized this for the first time when I was a new professor at an evangelical college. I was teaching philosophy of religion, and assumed that when we used the word “revelation” in a Christian context, we all knew that meant the Bible. But I was wrong. The problem with revelation, one student said in a paper, was that you can never really identify God’s voice. And if you can’t identify God’s voice, then how can God reveal anything? I…

  • Christianity and Evolution

    24 Aug 2010 | 6:50 am
    Author Rachel Held Evans describes how science almost derailed her faith—and how she realized God's truth is bigger than her doubt. The only time I’ve ever defaced a piece of property was when I was about 10 years old and my mom brought home a used science book from a garage sale. She thought I might like all the pictures of lions and zebras and polar bears crawling across the pages, but instead I flipped right to the section on evolutionary biology and proceeded to go ape on page 25 with a green crayon. Where it casually mentioned an Earth age of billions of years, I scribbled “NOT!”…

  • What It Means to Wait on the Lord

    20 Aug 2010 | 1:35 pm
    I left graduate school believing that very soon I would have a job, career, ministry … something that I would feel fulfilled in and gain experience from. I didn’t feel the need to pay attention to a conversation I had with my grandfather driving home cross-country back to Oregon. We were talking about knowing what one is supposed to do with one’s life, and I asked him, “How do I know that it is exactly where I should be at?” My grandpa shared a piece of advice I would forget, only to remember it after I had to learn the hard way: “Larissa,” he said, “when you pray, pray as to…

  • Death, Grief and God's Goodness

    18 Aug 2010 | 12:07 pm
    Grief is a mysterious thing. You never know when it is going to creep up on you or whether you’ll laugh or cry when it does. A few years ago, my brother’s best friend Stephen died. He was tall and dark and funny. I thought I saw him the other day, standing by a broken-down car. I came around a corner and I saw Stephen. I started to smile. Then I realized it couldn’t be Stephen, because he was dead. I burst into tears, while I gripped the steering wheel, and let grief come. I do not pretend to understand death. I cannot tell why it takes some early and leaves others on earth in pain and…
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    (re)made

  • Dream Place

    Adam Smith
    1 Sep 2010 | 8:06 pm
    My dream place to vacation is ____________. My dream place to live is ____________. No limitations here. Go.

  • college football

    Adam Smith
    31 Aug 2010 | 10:52 pm
    Yes, it’s that time again, folks. It’s the best time of the year in my opinion. My team is of course the Auburn Tigers. This is because I grew up in Alabama. If you know anything about growing up in Alabama, you know that you either go Crimson Tide or War Eagle. So, here we go with the trash talk. Who’s your team and why?

  • them tunes

    Adam Smith
    30 Aug 2010 | 10:42 pm
    If you remember my music post from last year, I recommended NeedtoBreathe’s last album, “The Outsiders”. Well, a lot of great music has come out since then. My favorite album right now is “Sigh No More” from Mumford & Sons, but I need about seventeen more albums to listen to. What new or old music would you recommend?

  • priorities

    Adam Smith
    29 Aug 2010 | 2:47 pm
    I tweeted the other day that it took me way too long to find out what the really important stuff in life is. And I mean every word of that. It took me six years of marriage to figure this one out. I said God was first, but he really wasn’t. I said Jasmine was second, but she really wasn’t. Just because you say how you feel or say what you care about doesn’t mean that you actually feel that way. Your actions say a lot for sure. How much time you spend with that person or consumed in that activity also says a lot about your priorities, too. I’m not saying all of this…

  • videos

    Adam Smith
    24 Aug 2010 | 8:47 pm
    Here are some videos I’ve seen in the past week that I keep thinking about. This one is weird, sort of funny… And this one made me think… Moments from Everynone on Vimeo. Enjoy. Got anything to share?
 
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    Travel Deals Blog BestTravelDeals.net

  • Feast of San Marino

    Chris
    1 Sep 2010 | 5:00 am
    The Feast of San Marino and the Republic, this week, celebrates the foundation of the Republic of San Marino in 301, making it the oldest republic in the world.

  • Top 10 U.S. Travel Deals for Labor Day Weekend

    Kathleen
    31 Aug 2010 | 4:00 am
    If you want to travel this Labor Day Weekend, but you don’t want to pull out your passport and venture to foreign lands, check out these top 10 U.S. travel deals for Labor Day Weekend.  If you’re lucky, you may even find a travel deal on this list for a destination that’s only a drive away from where you live. 1. Save $60 per Night Off Standard Rates at the Homestead Resort in Midway, Utah The Homestead Resort in Midway, Utah is offering their Garden Style rooms for $119 (for two adults) on September 5 and 6.  This offer is part of the Soldier Hollow Sheepdog Classic Package, which…

  • Last minute airfare deal: American, Frontier, JetBlue, United and Virgin America battle it out

    ERippe
    30 Aug 2010 | 11:16 am
    Here’s a secret travel deal you can’t afford to miss. American, Frontier, JetBlue and United airlines are offering unadvertised sale fares in response to Virgin America’s newest sale. Promotional fares start at $49 one-way ($98 round-trip), and include flights to Las Vegas, NYC, San Francisco, and Washington D.C., among a handful of other destinations. But here’s the catch: The low fare provided by all five airlines disappears at 11:59 p.m. tonight. Book you plane tickets now, before this deal takes flight.

  • Free Things to Do in Montreal

    PJ
    27 Aug 2010 | 5:00 am
    Blog Posts Montreal is the largest francophone city in North America and the cultural capital of Quebec. With its fine dining, copious beaches, and beautiful natural scenery, it’s also one of the top tourist destinations in all of Canada. For those looking some save money, Montreal has options galore: several free, outdoor festivals, 14 municipal parks, free museums, and other cultural attractions. If you’re looking to experience a truly foreign city without spending a fortune or traveling too far, Montreal is la ville pour vous! 1. Parc Jean Drapeau One of the city’s many…

  • Flippin’ sweet

    ERippe
    26 Aug 2010 | 8:05 pm
    Capture each remaining moment of summer in the city. Through Labor Day weekend, Affinia Hotels offers metropolitan getaways to New York, Washington D.C. and Chicago for under $300 per night. Affinia is sweetening the deal by throwing in the pocket-size Flip Ultra camcorder when you book a two-night stay in one of their posh downtown locations. The package also includes a $10 transit card for easy inner-city navigation, and a stylish Affinia tote bag for storing souvenirs. Check out all participating Affinia hotels online and book your Flippin’ Summer Getaway today. This deal runs through…
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    Insomnia Chronicles

  • 44

    Chilly
    30 Aug 2010 | 9:00 pm
    I’m now forty-four years young. I plan to live a long, long time — so, I’m only around the half-way mark! I’m so happy & blessed to be living the life God has called me to! Earlier this evening, I found myself reflecting on some of the things I’ve experienced so far in my life. Here’s a few details on the inventory list… I’ve been married to the world’s most amazing woman for over 21 years. I have 5 incredible kids: Riley (18), Courtney (14), Zoe (10), Maximus (5) & Chase (3.5)! I’ve had lots of dogs and NO cats. Prior to…

  • Excellence.

    Chilly
    30 Aug 2010 | 7:44 am
    “So make every effort to apply the benefits of these promises to your life. Then your faith will produce a life of moral excellence. A life of moral excellence leads to knowingGod better.6Knowing God leads to self-control. Self-control leads to patient endurance, and patient endurance leads to godliness.7Godliness leads to love for other Christians, and finally you will grow to have genuine love for everyone.8The more you grow like this, the more you will become productive and useful in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.“2 Peter 1:5-8 “Excellence is an art won by…

  • Mariah Lyn

    Chilly
    27 Aug 2010 | 9:00 pm
    “Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart”Ecclesiastes 3:11 My baby girl became an “adult” at midnight. This is her time. She is beautiful. So I will praise God – He has blessed my life through her. She is pure, holy, lovely and real. I’m sure that I’ve made many mistakes but I’m also sure that she’s known love every second of her life. Things change, but not love – it remains forever! So, that’s the gift that I will cling to as I watch her begin to navigate the next…

  • Choose Love.

    Chilly
    26 Aug 2010 | 11:17 pm
    Unfair stuff happens (especially when we view everything only through our eyes)… We always have a choice to react OR respond — yes, there IS a difference. Unfortunately, reacting comes easier and we CHOOSE pain, hurt, bitterness, resentment, jealousy or fear. It starts inside us but it never, EVER, stays there. It leaks out – usually through our lips… then, LOOK OUT! Face it, we live in a rough place at a rough time – and, sometimes, people aren’t nice – in fact, they can be downright mean, unfair, judgmental and brutal. We all get punk’d!

  • Souls.

    Chilly
    25 Aug 2010 | 1:29 pm
    You have nothing to do but to save souls. Therefore spend and be spent in this work. And go not only to those that need you, but to those that need you most. It is not your business to preach so many times, and to take care of this or that society; but to save as many souls as you can; to bring as many sinners as you possibly can to repentance.~ John Wesley
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    Reinvent YOUR Life with Alvin Slaughter

  • War on Obesity!!! Let’s do this!

    Alvin Slaughter
    1 Sep 2010 | 11:03 pm
    I wrote the book REINVENT YOUR LIFE and I’ve received so many wonderful testimonies of transformed lives. I’m humbled and grateful that someone could find a path to victory in their life through a story I tell or lesson I’ve learned. But I’m just getting started…. Now it’s time for phase 2… REINVENT YOUR LIFE- ULTIMATE BODY MAKEOVER! I’m declaring war on obesity and it begins with ME. I’ve been a big boy all my life. When I was a boy, my mother bought my brother’s clothes in the slim or regular dept. Well, she bought mine in the…

  • Don’t let anything steal your joy. I’m serious!

    Alvin Slaughter
    9 Aug 2010 | 8:52 am
    Hey  fam! Don’t let anything steal your joy today! And if you’ve already lost your joy, here are a few ways to get your joy back: A. Carve out a space and a place to read something inspirational (ever read REINVENT YOUR LIFE? LOL) I love reading the book of Proverbs. There are action steps there to grow in wisdom. B. Talk with someone who loves God, loves people and doesn’t have a critical spirit. It will refresh you. Toxic people and circumstances drain you and can’t always be avoided. Your job is to find a church, a small group or ask God to lead you to someone who…

  • Reinvent Your Life by Alvin Slaughter

    Alvin Slaughter
    24 Mar 2010 | 5:11 am
    How to turn your life around, rediscover the fire of your faith, and get your power back! Reinvent Your Life by Alvin Slaughter is a post from: Reinvent YOUR Life with Alvin Slaughter More articles like this... No related posts.

  • Reinvent Your Life in 30 days with Alvin Slaughter

    Alvin Slaughter
    27 Feb 2010 | 8:46 am
    This is it! Who needs a breakthrough? Well c’mon! It’s time to get your joy back— get your peace back— get your power back! Here’s how we’re going to do it. Click on the video for a very special message. Reinvent Your Life in 30 Days with Alvin Slaughter from Alvin Slaughter on Vimeo. Reinvent Your Life in 30 days with Alvin Slaughter is a post from: Reinvent YOUR Life with Alvin Slaughter More articles like this... No related posts.

  • Body Magic!

    Alvin Slaughter
    11 Feb 2010 | 3:44 pm
    First the product. Take a look at this video. Click below now… You have got to see these AMAZING stories! Click below Pretty amazing! Body Magic from Ardyss International. A product that sells itself. A recession proof part time or even full time income. Let’s talk. Send me a message on Facebook or  Click here to email me and say, “Please send more information.” I’ll get you the information you need to make a decision that’s right for you. An appointment with Ardyss, can change your life! Click here to email me or message me on Facebook You matter, Alvin…
 
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    LetsMoveToTheMoon

  • No One Reads What You Write

    Steven Rossi
    26 Aug 2010 | 3:19 pm
    Leo Laporte: A little deeper investigation showed that nothing I had posted on Buzz had gone public [in two weeks]. Nothing. …I am also taking away a hugely important lesson. No one noticed. Fantastic article. Unfortunately, I believe that I would experience a similar phenomenon. If I didn’t post on Twitter for two weeks, I doubt anyone would notice. However, I do think that people notice when I do tweet (as judged by their replies). Regardless, it’s a fascinating and disturbing observation. What are we doing wrong?

  • Remembering Dr. Richard Chase

    Steven Rossi
    20 Aug 2010 | 7:32 pm
    Wheaton.edu: A nationally recognized educator who guided the course of two of America’s premier Christian colleges for more than a decade each, [Wheaton College] President J. Richard Chase died at Windsor Park Manor in Carol Stream, Illinois, on August 20, 2010. He was 79 years old.

  • On Modifying Live Websites

    Steven Rossi
    16 Aug 2010 | 7:42 pm
    When using humorous dummy text, be sure that your posts are not being picked up by your RSS feed. Especially when this RSS feed is tied to numerous email subscriptions. Especially when you’re editing a church website. Especially when you’re making jokes about women. #NotThatI’dKnow.

  • Gmail Updates Contacts Feature

    Steven Rossi
    10 Aug 2010 | 10:18 am
    MG Siegler: Gmail is a great product; easily one of my favorites on the web. But it has an Achilles heel — well, actually it’s more like a bum leg: Contacts. Despite a solid contact area being a vital part of pretty much every email and productivity service, Gmail’s is awful. Or, it was awful. Today it’s getting a lot better. This is great news. Gmail’s Contacts feature wasn’t totally unusable, but it certainly had lots of room for improvement. Oh, and Apps users, someday you’ll get it, too, don’t worry.

  • Dignifying but Not Necessarily Apologizing

    Steven Rossi
    7 Aug 2010 | 7:43 pm
    Warren Kozak, WSJ: For the first time since the United States dropped the atomic bomb on Japan 65 years ago, today the U.S. ambassador to Japan will attend the official commemoration ceremony at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial. The U.S. ambassador has always declined the annual invitation, but this year is different. President Barack Obama decided to acknowledge the event with the presence of a high-level dignitary. Say what you want about the decision to drop the bomb, but the decision to dignify the country as a result of the lost lives is certainly a good one. Whether or not the good…
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    The Underground

  • Three more Lutheran churches leave ELCA

    The Underground Staff
    31 Aug 2010 | 5:29 pm
    Three more conservative churches split recently from the largest Lutheran denomination in the country and formed their own church, amid the more accepting position that has been taken by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America toward gay clergy, and their recent ordination of gay bishops who are involved in committed relationships. The First Lutheran Church in Philip, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Long Valley, and Trinity Lutheran in Midland, who form part of the Lutheran Coalition of Renewal voted by an overwhelming margin of 98 percent to 100 percent to leave the 4.5-million strong…

  • Philippine bishop calls for honest investigation of hostage-taking incident

    The Underground Staff
    31 Aug 2010 | 5:29 pm
    A Catholic prelate, in a mass held at the Quirino Grandstand, Manila, called on the Philippine government to conduct an honest investigation of the violent hostage-taking incident where eight tourists from Hongkong died. Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, in a concelebrated mass for the victims from Hongkong, said in his homily that Filipinos also demand justice for the victims of the August 23 hostage-taking incident, where an ex-policeman held 25 people hostage in a tourist bus and resulted in the death of eight Chinese nationals. The hostage taker demanded that he get his job back,…

  • Christian group issues guidelines for teaching Bible in public schools

    The Underground Staff
    31 Aug 2010 | 5:29 pm
    A Christian ministry released recently a document to guide public schools on how to use Bible stories in classrooms. Gateways to Better Education, a national ministry that has focused its work on helping Christian parents and teachers in public schools, issued a single-page document, “School District Guidelines for the Use of Bible Stories in The Classroom,” The Christian Post said. The document was made available when it was noted that in public schools it was both legally supported and academically expected that the Bible is introduced in public schools. In light of this, Gateways felt…

  • Trapped Chilean miners, families, are keeping the faith

    The Underground Staff
    30 Aug 2010 | 9:13 pm
    Faith in God is helping to keep the 33 trapped Chilean miners and their families strong, and relatives are continuing to ask God to bring their men out of the mine safely so that they can return to their homes and loved ones. The miners, who have been trapped in a space the size of a living room since August 6, were working in a copper and gold mine in the Atacama Desert in Chile when it collapsed, TOTHECENTER said. This week, after 17 days spent 2,000 feet underground, it was learned through handwritten notes from the miners that all 33 men are still alive. The people in Chile praised and…

  • Book says Christian teens’ faith is watered down, lacks substance

    The Underground Staff
    30 Aug 2010 | 9:13 pm
    Many young Christians teens in American are drifting away from a faith of substance to a watered-down faith where they may believe in God, but do not believe in Christian doctrine, a new book says. Kenda Creasy Dean, in her book “Almost Christian,” says American teens follow a “moralistic therapeutic deism” which views God as a heavenly therapist of sorts whom they believe is there primarily to boost self confidence, CNN said. Dean said, “It helps you feel good. Otherwise God stays out of the way,” The Tennessean said. A minister and professor from Princeton Theological…
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    Reject Apathy

  • Surviving the Flood

    25 Aug 2010 | 6:00 am
    When floods washed away Chakdara Bridge—Lower Dir’s main connection with the rest of Pakistan—it cut a vital link to health services for people in the region at a time when they were more important than ever.

  • Preemptive Love Coalition

    24 Aug 2010 | 10:00 pm
    This past weekend, doctors worked for five and a half hours on the frail heart of a little boy named Ahmed. Ahmed is a child from Iraq who has spent the first five years of his life battling congenital heart disease. En route to Ahmed’s procedure, his parents were in a serious car accident and hospitalized themselves a few hours away. The doctors, an expert team flown into Iraq for just such desperate situations, are aware they are doing more than giving a boy a new life. They are giving a family a future. And in some small way, they are giving people hope.

  • Meeting Obama's Neighbors

    24 Aug 2010 | 10:00 pm
    The meeting place is set for a small town in Maryland. I, (Jeremy) am returning to the States after recently spending several days in extreme poverty visiting my wife in Haiti, and James is departing Atlanta in his van after spending several nights on the streets with the homeless. For the next week, we will hit the streets of Westminster, Baltimore, and Washington D.C. to bring water bottles, socks and rain tarps to homeless friends we meet. In addition, we will participate in a mock "underground church" at a local youth group to remember the persecuted church while also praying…

  • Development with Purpose in Haiti

    24 Aug 2010 | 10:00 pm
    While some organizations entered Haiti for the first time after the January earthquake, others have been helping the country for years. Among those is Plant with Purpose, an organization dedicated to development and helping those living in extreme poverty rise above their circumstances. Here, we talk to Plant with Purpose founder Scott Sabin about how Haiti’s turbulent past has affected its people, his organization’s focus in the country and how misapplied aid can ruin Haiti’s long-term development.

  • The Church on the Front Lines in Pakistan

    24 Aug 2010 | 10:00 pm
    I can’t imagine what it would be like to have my entire livelihood swept away in one fell swoop. I don’t even like changes to my routine and think life is great—as long as its trundles along unhindered. Then life throws an unexpected curveball and brings a different perspective on things. It’s wise to plan for the future, and it’s much easier to handle challenges when you’ve been taking care of business along the way, but sometimes events are way beyond our control.
 
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    LIFE, LOVE & TRUTH

  • A Ground Zero Mosque – Yes or No?

    Jeff Courter
    31 Aug 2010 | 6:58 pm
    The "Ground Zero Mosque" project is igniting passion on all sides. But what decision would be in everyone's best interests? Let's take a closer look...

  • Independence Day – Afghan Style

    Jeff Courter
    19 Aug 2010 | 4:53 pm
    Americans may be surprised to learn that Afghans have long celebrated their own Independence Day. I honor their resolve - but wonder how and when they'll truly live "free"?

  • Heroes & History – Truth vs. Myth

    Jeff Courter
    31 Jul 2010 | 1:39 pm
    When war stories find their place in history, is the truth good enough? Lessons learned from the Afghanistan movie "Restrepo" and the Declaration of Independence.

  • RESTREPO: Real Love, Real Sacrifice, in Real Time

    Jeff Courter
    30 Jun 2010 | 2:35 pm
    A "sneak peek" of the gripping new Afghan War documentary "Restrepo" leads to a key question - what compels Soldiers to go to battle, again and again? As a Soldier myself, I have some ideas...

  • 5000 Reasons to Remember Memorial Day

    Jeff Courter
    30 May 2010 | 5:36 pm
    What does it really mean to "celebrate" Memorial Day? There's way more to this holiday than hotdogs and hamburgers. In fact, I can think of at least 5000 reasons why we should never forget.
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    Faith Barista

  • Lost — Going Off Script

    Bonnie Gray
    30 Aug 2010 | 12:05 am
    Everyone who has ever taken a trip anywhere new on vacation has always gotten lost. Some people even plan trips without an itinerary because they hope to stumble onto something exciting. Not me. I like my Fodor’s Travel Guides, thank you. You won’t find me on a tour bus, but you can always ask me for directions or get the scoop on the best place to grab lunch. On the occasions I get disoriented, I try not to sweat. I’ve gotten used to feeling lost. You’d never guess that looking at the street signs translated in Chinese and English, hanging side by side in San…

  • The Faith Genome: Dare To Beat Monotony

    Bonnie Gray
    27 Aug 2010 | 12:05 am
    I stood there, shoulders hunched over the kitchen counter, mesmerized by music streaming out of my MacBook. Like the creek near my house that runs dry this time of year, my days grew dusty with the monotony of routine.   I fell into a spell of staying up too late, like a little kid who whines at bedtime.  The time I spend as a night owl wasn’t all too productive either. It’s kind of dead time, really — similar to emptying quarters playing skee ball.  You walk up with excitement in pockets full of quarters and walk away with your brain numb trying break the highest score.

  • Blessings That Grow In The Dark

    Bonnie Gray
    20 Aug 2010 | 12:05 am
    “Do not despise the first season of growth for anything in your life.”  ~  Tammy Maltby I didn’t know that onions grew in the dark until I pulled one sprouting flowers out of my pantry closet. My husband humorously shakes his head, watching me lug a big bag of onions from Costco into our home.  It seems odd to buy them in bulk when we’re just two adults, a preschooler and a baby. Hey, I love stir fry.  I throw whole bulbs of this stuff into everything.  I’m also pretty sure I’ve got some Italian in me, because I can’t get enough onions in my…

  • Sidelined — Going Off Script

    Bonnie Gray
    18 Aug 2010 | 12:05 am
    Before I knew what to call it, I heard jazz playing in the streets. Smoky tunes would float through the air just as the sun began it’s descent and the San Francisco wind whipped in cold Pacific air. People still walking through the maze of streets would pull their jackets in tighter and pick up the pace. On evenings like this, Mom and I didn’t trek up the steep sidewalks. We’d thread through the crowds towards a bus stop, to catch a ride home. Nothing muffled the brassy puffs of a saxophone, not even restless shoppers or cars roaring past yellow lights.  As we’d make…

  • Would You Really Be Happier With Less?

    Bonnie Gray
    13 Aug 2010 | 1:00 am
    We pray “The Lord is my shepherd.  I shall not want…” Meanwhile, our hearts are packed with the trickling of wanting.  How to make it stop? It sounds so good.  Getting rid of clutter, the excess.  Stuff. But, will having less make us want less? Having less used to appear parochial to followers of Christ who abandon all to serve God. Now, having less is going mainstream. Spurned by a poor economy, people are riding the growing wave of goal-oriented minimalists.  It’s a head turning cultural phenomenon, shedding as much as possible.  People are re-evaluating what…
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    THE CHRISTIAN WATCHMAN

  • Movie Review:Saving God.

    emmage
    31 Aug 2010 | 2:15 am
      Saving God Matthew 6:9-15 (King James Version) 9.After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.10.Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.11.Give us this day our daily bread.12.And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.13.And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.14.For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:15.But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father…

  • AudioBook Review: A Place of Healing by Joni Eareckson Tada

    emmage
    27 Aug 2010 | 2:17 am
      Recently I did a book review titled Stronger than Pain about Arlene Kauffman who suffered chronic pain for over three decades she was around. She affected lives for God in the process. Read the article Book Review: Stronger than Pain by Arlene Kauffman with Lori Yoder on Blogcritics. Similarly, the challenge of the unstoppable Joni Eareckson Tada with pain has inspired this review. A diving accident left Joni a victim of quadriplegia some four decades ago. With a "never-say-never" drive,Joni recovered and has gone on to become an encourager,a best selling author,a crusader on all…

  • Movie Review: Dangerous Calling

    emmage
    24 Aug 2010 | 6:29 am
      The Scriptures instructs in 2Timothy 3 that,This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.For men(women) shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers,unthankful, unholy;Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good;Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.Dangerous Calling is one of those murder mystery/thriller Christian DVD Movies we'll all do well to see(if you haven't)if we're so passionate about the Mission fields; or, we know a…

  • Who is a Christian Watchman?

    emmage
    20 Aug 2010 | 3:33 am
    Having received loads of enquiries,suggestions,even theological droolers seeking to know why I used the word "Christian Watchman",I feel its time to etch an explicit diagram of part of what he's all about. To start with, a Christian Watchman is a stay-in-the-background role. Somewhat like a John the baptist! But further still, one called to watch-out and remind believers to be aware of the little foxes that spoil the vine- or else 'we all could get our fingers burnt'! September 11 will always remain fresh in the minds of every nation on this planet earth! A lot of people had…

  • Satan's Heartache!

    emmage
    19 Aug 2010 | 2:59 am
    A well versed atheist once allowed his head to dictate his thoughts recently.He tried stirring up a controversial argument on the topic of 'God versus satan worship'-with two World war II veterans in the frame. He tried flippantly to project his beliefs on these 'been-there-done-that' old timers, that "God doesn't exist"-using the DaVinci code movie as his bait. He got more than he bargained for in the process. "Kid",began one of the grandees,"Much as I do understand where you're coming from and where you're headed, I will ask you only two questions on this topic you've flared up; answer them…
 
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    Marc Estes - Making Life Count

  • Bringing Bible College to You!

    Marc
    1 Sep 2010 | 8:45 pm
    Over the past fifteen years I have had the privilege in working closely with Portland Bible College. Having the opportunity to be a part of shaping next generation leaders has been a real blessing. It has been amazing to see the lives of so many young people launched into ministry and to see the lives of thousands touched as a result of the efforts of PBC. One of the comments I have heard while traveling all over the world is, “I would love to have the opportunity to take some quality Bible College classes, but my current life circumstances will not allow it.” Boy, do we have some…

  • Free Tools for You!

    Marc
    20 Aug 2010 | 8:00 am
    Over the past few years I have posted some resource tools that are designed to help you in becoming a more effective leader. These items have been very popular and I have received many encouraging emails as to how they have helped others. I thought it would be good to put the list in front of you and allow you to download as many FREE resources as you want. Let me know which ones have been a blessing to you! FREE Downloadable Leadership Notes Connecting to Community – Web Verison Building a Thriving Team Culture – Web Version Building a Leadership Pipeline – Web Version Keys to a…

  • Effective Confrontation

    Marc
    19 Aug 2010 | 8:00 am
    Most of us avoid conflict at all costs. First of all, it is no fun. Secondly, our natural tendency is to avoid confrontation. However, avoiding conflict will not solve the issue at hand, but will only multiply it.  The reality is, sooner or later, you will have to face the situation, and facing it early on in it’s conception will greatly reduce the potential of an all out war. Here are some things you migh consider the next time you have to confront a situation or person: 1. Confront in private, not in public – Don’t create a scene, or embarrass someone. Have some wisdom…

  • Combatting Sex Trafficking in Portland

    Marc
    18 Aug 2010 | 8:00 am
    Over the past few months our church has been investigating ways in which we might assist in combating the child sex trafficking in the Portland/Vancouver area.  Our city has been nicknamed, “Pornland” by Dan Rathers and has become one of the highest areas for sex trafficking in the entire United States. Our journey has begun, by making a commitment to get involved and use our influence and resources to make a difference. On Sunday evening, August 15th, Pastor Frank presented our passion and commitment to get involved to the congregation at our Super Sunday Night. We asked our…

  • Heading Problems off Before They Are a Tragedy

    Marc
    17 Aug 2010 | 7:52 pm
    This is one fact that is for sure; life is filled with challenges and problems.  We all have a desired outcome to each day in which we live, but often times there are ‘surprises’ that come our way that may detour our desired plans and goals. Much of the outcome of a potential problem lies in our ability to discern, assess and resolve the situation promptly.  A leader is not measure by the challenges they face, but their respsonse to them! The Los Angeles Times ran a quote that stated, “If you can smile whenever something goes wrong, you are either a nitwit, or a repair…
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    Sustainable Traditions

  • Empire vs. Love

    Bill Guerrant
    27 Aug 2010 | 9:40 am
    In the 4th Century A.D. the Roman emperor Julian was concerned about the spread of Christianity in his empire...He wrote: “Nothing has contributed to the progress of the superstition of these... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit the Sustainable Traditions blogazine for full links, other content, and more! Shalom! ]]

  • Self-Reliance vs. Self-Sufficiency

    Leni Sorensen
    14 Aug 2010 | 9:28 am
    Today rather then judge ourselves by some illusory benchmark of rural American self ’sufficiency’ we might better make an effort to be more self-reliant...we can discipline ourselves to participate... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit the Sustainable Traditions blogazine for full links, other content, and more! Shalom! ]]

  • Farming As A Spiritual Discipline [Book Review]

    Jason Fowler
    2 Aug 2010 | 1:13 pm
    Despite what the title may infer, it is not just for farmers- it is for all of us who long for the coming shalom of GOD's New Earth. He begins by inviting city dwellers to get their hands in God's... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit the Sustainable Traditions blogazine for full links, other content, and more! Shalom! ]]

  • Why Christians Should Support Sustainable Agriculture

    Caroline D'Angelo
    30 Jul 2010 | 5:07 am
    Everybody should support sustainable agriculture because it will help alleviate health problems, environmental pollution and help strengthen communities...but Christians have added incentive to do... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit the Sustainable Traditions blogazine for full links, other content, and more! Shalom! ]]

  • Norman Wirzba: Food, Faith and Ethical Eating [PBS Video]

    Jason Fowler
    29 Jul 2010 | 2:48 pm
    I found this great video today from PBS featuring Norman Wirzba, Research Professor of Theology, Ecology, and Rural Life Duke Divinity School...This excellent video gives a brief snapshot into the... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit the Sustainable Traditions blogazine for full links, other content, and more! Shalom! ]]
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    Soulfari

  • The Least I Could Do

    JC Dude
    1 Sep 2010 | 12:47 pm
      This post is a part of a weekly book discussion hosted by Jason Stasyszen of Connecting to Impact and Sarah Salter of Living Between the Lines. I encourage you to check out the other posts which can be found on their sites. The Book we are discussing is The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Matthew 25:40 I admit to having a difficult time writing this blog post, I am (oddly enough) at a loss for words or I’m just not sure what my words should be. I…

  • Flat Out

    JC Dude
    31 Aug 2010 | 2:32 pm
    “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” Psalm 51:17 flat-out (-out′) – adjective at full speed, with maximum effort, etc. absolute; thorough; definite ‘Flat out’ is a phrase suggesting maximum effort and speed, but in Australia it usually means flat out on your face as in the expression “He’s flat out, like a lizard drinking.” I feel flat-out… There are days where I feel like a colossal (huge, massive, large, enormous, gigantic) failure. Days when I can’t think of one good thing I’ve…

  • I Worship

    JC Dude
    29 Aug 2010 | 6:36 pm
      "Faith is the heroic effort of your life. You fling yourself in reckless confidence on God. God has ventured all in Jesus Christ to save us. Now he wants us to venture our all in a life that can face anything it has to face without wavering....Again and  again, you will get up to what Jesus Christ wants, and every time, you turn back when it comes to that point until you abandon resolutely....Jesus Christ demands that you risk everything you hold by common sense--and leap into what He says....Christ demands of the man who trust Him the same reckless spirit....that is daring…

  • This is the Way

    JC Dude
    26 Aug 2010 | 5:31 am
      “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21 Tonight's the night. After a 13 hour trek to Indiana my son Josh will be officially launched. His new adventure begins and my own personal one continues. I want my blog and my simple musings to be an encouragement and a blessing. My heart's desire is to present God's love and truth through my journey as husband, father and son...the three pillars of my life. What I don't want; is to present myself as a perfect dad or any one of those…

  • A Quiver Full (minus one)

    JC Dude
    23 Aug 2010 | 11:09 am
      Wasn’t going to post today but I saw that Bridget’s Blog Carnival theme was “children” (be sure to check out the other great posts there) and I started to muse. So, here it is raw and free flowing… Lo, children are a heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.  - Psalm 127:3 I have seven wonderful children, my quiver is full, packed you might say. 21 years of fatherhood has morphed me into a better human being and for that, I am thankful. At times that quiver seems so heavy, almost too much to bear. There have been times in my life when I wonder at the…
 
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    eBROUSSARD.com

  • Amish Peace

    Eddie Broussard
    22 Aug 2010 | 8:09 pm
    <So…I took the summer off from blogging. It’s been a relaxing 2.5 months. We have had some great family time and if the weather would cool off…everything else for FALL would drop into place. If you have been here before, thanks for coming back. If you are new…welcome…stay as long as you like.> ©iStockphoto.com/StephanieFrey In early October [...] Related posts:charity: water “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan (part II) Weak Men Living Lies

  • Ride:Well Bike Tour

    Eddie Broussard
    9 Jun 2010 | 7:22 am
      So have you ever thought…I would love to ride my bike across the country? Literally from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean on a bicycle. Well, that’s what a team of brave people started doing three days ago. It’s called the Ride:Well Bike Tour and they left the Califorinia coast yesterday and will be [...] Related posts:charity: water kayaking fear Mothers and Daughters Who Need Hope

  • Eucharist

    Eddie Broussard
    4 Jun 2010 | 11:27 am
    There are a few words that are very deep for me. What I would like to do here is to post a word and talk about it a little and then ask you to add your thoughts and comments about the word. Eucharist We didn’t really call it that…we called it the Lord’s Supper. If [...] Related posts:Transformist=blending of life “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan (part II) Comfortably Numb

  • Mothers and Daughters Who Need Hope

    Eddie Broussard
    6 May 2010 | 8:32 am
    I have the honor of serving on the board of a life changing organization called Safe Harbor. It’s a place that reaches out to the homeless women of our community and place where women can begin to put their lives back together with the hope and grace of Jesus Christ. This post is written by the Executive [...] Related posts:Hello world! 10 reasons why I love professional golf charity: water
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    GinaMcClain.com

  • I Would Never…

    gina
    2 Sep 2010 | 3:50 am
    I would never… I’m not one to use that phrase.  Maybe there was a time in my life when I would but not in the past few decades.  I think because I understand my own fallibility.  I understand that I’m only a few bad choices away from losing everything I have… a great marriage, great [...]

  • Recruiting That Works

    gina
    1 Sep 2010 | 3:50 am
    Searching for volunteers? Volunteer recruiting is a hot topic in the kidmin world.  Why? Because it’s how we do business.  We wouldn’t have a ministry if we didn’t have volunteers. Volunteer recruiting is a constant in the kidmin life and learning how to do it better always ranks high on my list.  In the Sept/Oct [...]

  • Top 20: Leading the Way

    gina
    28 Aug 2010 | 7:34 pm
    In my week-long review of the September/October edition of Children’s Ministry Magazine, here’s the second article that drew me in.  CM Mag is celebrating their 20 year anniversary.  So, they took a look back and highlighted the top 20 leaders that have influenced children’s ministry over the past 2 decades.  Reading through the article it’s [...]
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    Mommy On Fire

  • WFW: To Everything There Is A Season…

    mommyonfire
    31 Aug 2010 | 10:01 pm
    “Back to School Week” at Casa de Snapp is now behind us and we are all somewhat adjusting to what is now our new normal.  I know by October everyone won’t remember the lazy days of our Wal-Mart pool and green turtle sandbox but right now, it’s still a little bit of a temptation. And praise sweet Jesus that I had enough wits about me to schedule everyone so we don’t have to be anywhere before 11:30 on most days. Whew.  This night-owl, coffee-loving mama has put-off the early morning shenanigans for the last year.  And absolutely it was on purpose. However, my…

  • Multitude Monday: Out on “Dramacation”

    mommyonfire
    29 Aug 2010 | 10:01 pm
    I realize this is not the most loving of graphics and I try to keep things positive and free-of-rants here at Mommy on Fire. However, pass this one up?  I think we all need a good chuckle now and then, don’t you? Sigh. Holy Cow. What a drama-filled weekend. Let’s just say that I am so very much not a drama-lover.  I’ve had enough of it in my life for about four straight seasons of “Days of Our Lives” and when I sense it coming upon me I run like the wind. I like things easy.  I like things simple.  I don’t like games.  I believe in “shooting…

  • CR: Free Association Because I’m Brain Dead

    mommyonfire
    26 Aug 2010 | 10:01 pm
    I love you all.  And I love to write.  But I can’t do anything heavy this evening.  There’s a “blocker” on my brain prohibiting me from going too deep because really…all I want to do right now is read.  I’m in a reading kind of mood.  Well, actually, I’m always in a reading kind of mood but I REALLY am tonight. A few weeks ago, Andrea from Under Grace and Over Coffee finished the following sentences as well as Jen of Finding Heaven.  I thought they were fun to read and I’m going to do my own version tonight because I don’t have a…

  • Ridiculously Good Chicken Pad Thai

    mommyonfire
    25 Aug 2010 | 10:01 pm
    Perhaps you remember that I don’t like deadlines (which, of course, is somewhat comical since I am trying to start a freelance writing career and all…). Soon after this blog was born, I started a “MMMM Mondays” feature in which I published recipes that were tasty and family-friendly. But then I felt boxed-in.  I didn’t want to have to post a recipe if I wasn’t feeling it.  So “MMMM Mondays” became an archive of “Mommy on Fire” history. But this Chicken Pad Thai?  You must make it this weekend.  Oh, how happy your little tummy…

  • WFW: Even There Your Hand Will Guide Me

    mommyonfire
    24 Aug 2010 | 10:01 pm
    God has really been doing some pretty funny things in my world with this verse as of late. First of all, this past Sunday, we had a moment to share about the Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) ministry with our congregation.  A short, artfully-produced video was made to promote our group and we appealed to the congregation for volunteers. Soon after, three speakers on the stage of our church began reciting Psalm 139.  Unbeknown to them, Psalm 139:10 is the “theme verse” for MOPS this year. Doesn’t God arrange “accidents” that integrate so beautifully? I felt…
 
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    The Grace Guy - GraceGuy's BLOG

  • Grace every day!

    25 Aug 2010 | 3:51 pm
    Lam 3:23 tells us that God's Graces are renewed every morning. That means every time I open my eyes in the morning, God has new Graces for me. So that got me thinking: what else does the Bible say about the morning, the night, the day ? What did others do when they awoke, during the day and when they went to bed ? What were the daily rituals of those who felt God's renewed Graces every day ?May this become my daily guide to experimenting God every day.GOD CONTROLS IT ALLDay and night belongs to God Gen 1:5, 14-18, Ps 74:16, 104:20, 118:24, Jer 33:20, 25, Am 5:8, Mt 5:45WHEN I WAKEI am given…

  • Where Grace works

    25 Aug 2010 | 11:26 am
    The slow, gradual descent into the deep abyss of personal destruction is one often characterized by the following 'D'sDesireDecisionDepartureDeceptionDefeatsDesperationBefore getting to the last and fateful D (estruction), GRACE is there to offer the alternative 'D' : Deliverance. No matter what step I am at, Grace is available and powerful enough to get me out of the tailspin. Grace. It works everywhere.

  • Nothing I can do...

    24 Aug 2010 | 7:09 pm
    In my studies on Grace, I have learnt that there are certain things I can do nothing about. Four actually.Nothing I can do will change the past Nothing I can do will control the futureNothing I can do will make God love me moreNothing I can do will make God love me lessI need to remind myself of these four 'Nothing I can dos' all too often.

  • There is more Grace

    23 Jul 2010 | 6:03 am
    Grace is all about God. It's His gift to us, with nothing we can do to merit the gift. And like all gifts, it is given to those willing to receive it, in this case, through faith.Following my biblical study on Grace is the Result of my..., I see that after the inital Grace of salvation, the more I do some things, the more Grace I receive. God pays attention to my actions and wants to bless me with even more Grace. The gift remains there after salvation, I need to want to receive it. When I obey, pray, love and when I am humble, righteous, wise, good and witnessing, Grace is there. And…

  • From the Inside Out - Hillsong

    19 Jul 2010 | 11:39 am
    Some wonderful lyrics from a consuming song by Hillsong.A thousand times I've failedStill your mercy remainsAnd should I stumble againStill I'm caught in your grace everlastingGrace. For every time we stumble.
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    Living in Love with Jesus

  • Laryngitis – “It’s Baaaack”

    Kim Avery
    9 Aug 2010 | 3:38 am
    by Kim Avery “They’re baaaack,” or so the corny line from the 3rd rate horror movie goes, and it’s true. Well, almost. It would be more accurate to say, “It’s baaaack,” as in that virulent  case of laryngitis that stole three months of my life this past spring. Three months. Crazy, isn’t it? I mean who has ever heard of a case of laryngitis stalking someone like a hungry shark on a summer day? And not just someone but a very talkative woman?  And not just a woman but a Life Coach who spends her days talking ON THE PHONE? And if I were to be really honest, I wonder why…

  • Danger – Blog Changes Ahead!

    Kim Avery
    3 Aug 2010 | 6:52 am
    Danger – change ahead!!! Oh, how I wish those words never had to come out of my mouth (keyboard ). The truth is that in this time-restrained world “nothing fails like success,” and what that means is that changes lie ahead for the Living in Love with Jesus blog here at Life Coaching for Christian Women. In others words, I have been so undeservedly blessed by my Father God that I find myself in the difficult position of having to narrow the scope of the Living in Love with Jesus blog that I love. Change Is Hard This is hard!!! I get a lump in my throat just saying it but know it is for…

  • Mentor Monday: Julie Gorman

    Kim Avery
    2 Aug 2010 | 3:23 am
    Welcome to Mentor Monday Come and Catch a Passion for Jesus Meet Julie Gorman Kim: How did you become involved in ministry? Julie: I’m a firm believer we are all called to the ministry, whether preaching to masses, teaching little children, giving financially, caring for the sick, cooking for the hungry, or….well the list can go on and on infinitely…The truth is God has fashioned each one of us uniquely. We have special gifts and talents that can be used to minister His grace and mercy. So, how did I become involved with ministry? I recognized it was God’s heartbeat for ALL believers.

  • Why I’ve Written a Book (or two) When I Hate to Write

    Kim Avery
    29 Jul 2010 | 3:30 am
    by Kim Avery I never wanted to be a writer. Exactly zero of my childhood moments were spent envisioning my name on the cover of a book. Writing is not my gift and not my first love. It’s lonely, thankless, and it’s hard. Instead, I like to talk.  I like to talk a lot. So, as an extrovert, my youthful dreams were a bit different. I liked to imagine standing in front of a crowd spewing wise words that changed the world. I pictured mass conversions when I spoke of Jesus’ love. My name might not grace the front of a book but instead would be emblazoned on the front of a marquee. I’ve not…

  • Worry Free Wednesdays – The Worry Cure – Part IV

    Kim Avery
    28 Jul 2010 | 3:20 am
    by Kim Avery Life is hard, yet still God says there is no need for worry.  Is that even possible? Can we really live anxiety-free when the bills are late, the children rebel, and our job is at risk? This month we have been studying how to truly live a life that is worry-free.  What could be better than that? Four Essential Steps to a Worry-Free Life: Recognize Respond Release Replace Up to this point, (click here) we have discussed the first three steps to a worry-free life. It begins simply, by just recognizing that there is a better way.  We then follow that acknowledgment with prayer,…
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    Shepherding Souls

  • Ten Ways to Protect Your Marriage

    daletedder
    2 Sep 2010 | 5:37 am
    by Mary May Larmoyeux at Family Life.com You may have heard about the law firm in Chicago that put up a billboard saying, “Life is short. Get a divorce.” And then there was the recent survey of 3,000 women by … Continue reading →

  • Guarding Our Daughter’s Moral Purity

    daletedder
    2 Sep 2010 | 5:36 am
    A nervous father interviews his daughter’s date. by Dennis Rainey at FamilyLife.com I was seated at my desk, barely able to concentrate. I shifted papers, opened drawers, glanced out the window. Shifted papers, opened drawers, glanced out the window. Shifted … Continue reading →

  • Has Christianity Failed You?

    daletedder
    1 Sep 2010 | 11:35 am
    Tagged: Has Christianity Failed You, Ravi Zacharias

  • Today’s Bible Q & A

    daletedder
    1 Sep 2010 | 8:37 am
    Why was Jesus baptized? by John MacArthur (2 minutes) Do you believe we should cast out demons today? by John Piper (4 minutes) Tagged: Baptism of Jesus, Casting Out Demons, Demons, Jesus Christ, John MacArthur, John Piper, Satan

  • The Joys of Biblical Marriage

    daletedder
    1 Sep 2010 | 8:18 am
    by John Barnett at Discover the Book For most of us, the majority our lives will be spent in marriage. What do you want those years of life to be like? Do you want them to be hard times of … Continue reading →
 
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    Christianity 201

  • Words that Refresh

    paulthinkingoutloud
    1 Sep 2010 | 2:49 am
    The sheer arrogance of naming this blog Christianity 201 never ceases to amaze me.   What on earth was I thinking? Certainly I was thinking that I would create something as an alternative to my other blog; I would create something more Biblio-centric, more Christo-centric.    I would, as the blog’s header says, “dig a little deeper.” But I am amazed at how much one man’s “deeper” is another man’s “boring.”   While some theologian types salivate over a discussion of some tertiary doctrine, and others start hyperventilating at the…

  • God is in Control

    paulthinkingoutloud
    31 Aug 2010 | 2:48 pm
    Another music video today; one that was filmed at a time when the criteria and expectations for music videos were not the same as today.   Twila Paris (and her sister Starla, don’t you love the names?) grew up on a base of Youth With A Mission.   Her own story is worth knowing. Some would question the “value” of this song in today’s modern worship environment, but I have reasons for including it here. For one, the question of “Where is God when bad things happen?” along with “How can a loving God allow suffering?” continue to top the lists…

  • Caedman’s Call: Who You Are

    paulthinkingoutloud
    30 Aug 2010 | 2:27 pm
    I’m so glad someone posted this song.   Caedman’s Call have a great ‘listening’ worship song here; though increasingly some Churches are adding pieces with greater complexity. I love the line, “You opened your arms / You call me into salvation / Your infinite love / Echoes in all creation.” When I was young You were my breath and heartbeat Born in the dark You were the hand that held me You opened your arms You call me into salvation Your infinite love Echoes in all creation For who You are You’re the great I am For who You are You’re the son…

  • Have Hurting People Estranged From the Church Left The Faith?

    paulthinkingoutloud
    29 Aug 2010 | 1:52 pm
    A piece I wrote at Thinking Out Loud about the need for confession and forgiveness used, as a springboard for discussion, a post from a ‘confessional’ website where a reader stated that they’ve actually left their faith, but are staying on the church’s e-mail prayer chain list so they can continue to be in on all the church gossip. If you’re interested, here is the item I wrote. A reader responded with this comment which expresses a rather comment sentiment which you’ve probably heard come up in any discussion of someone leaving the faith. The obvious…

  • Finding Your Worship Moment

    paulthinkingoutloud
    28 Aug 2010 | 4:41 pm
    I have written and spoken many times on the concept of finding a worship moment; that time when you are just overcome by the beauty of creation and you have to stop and thank God for what He has made, and worship Him for being able to make it. But not all worship moments involve emotional intensity, there are some that equal the fervor of a Sunday morning worship time in a Charismatic church, but there are others where you don’t respond the same, but in your heart, there is no doubt about giving credit to Whom credit is due. This little forest is nested in a town park not far from our…
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    sexrev.org

  • The Biggest Mistake I’ve Made This Year

    Jay Brock
    30 Aug 2010 | 9:31 am
    I have a confession to make… I’m not perfect. GASP! No seriously, I’m really screwed up.  I think before I speak, and sometimes I act before I do either. Which led me to the realization that I am blessed to share with you today: the biggest mistake I’ve made this year. About 5 years ago, there was a particular situation which I did not think through whatsoever at all.  Some crazy stuff (nothing sinful, just crazy) went down and I ended up getting booted from that ministry. In hindsight, I was a total idiot.  Super unwise. Very disrespectful.  Total blockhead move.

  • Benjamin Franklin’s Advice for Living Well and Becoming a History Maker

    Jay Brock
    27 Aug 2010 | 6:21 am
    On January 31st of 1783, Mr. Benjamin Vaughan wrote a letter, sent from Paris to the New World, to a one Benjamin Franklin.  In that letter, Vaughan implored Franklin to sit down and write an autobiography of his life. (For those unfamiliar with Benjamin Franklin, he was an author and the inventor of bifocals, the indoor furnace, the public library, the fire department, the lightning rod, and the United States of America, among other things!) (And yes, the city near Toronto where Wonderland is located is named after Benjamin Vaughan! He was a British commissioner who was instrumental in…

  • When What We Love Turns On Us

    Michelle Brock
    24 Aug 2010 | 8:55 am
    Sin is a funny thing.  As my professor would say, it’s not funny ‘haha’ but funny ‘peculiar.’  Coveting, murder, lust, gluttony, and idolatry are all sin and eventually hurt us as well as others.  Though we can immediately identify these as negative and harmful, it is more difficult to spot them when they have not yet developed into the monsters they become.  In his book Jesus for President, Shane Claiborne says this: Most of the ugliness in the human narrative comes from a distorted quest to possess beauty.  Coveting begins with appreciating blessings.

  • Interview with Jeff Strong, Pastor at Grindstone Church and Author of Mere Disciple

    Jay Brock
    18 Aug 2010 | 9:37 am
    I love meeting dreamers and hearing their stories. When I heard that Jeff Strong was releasing a book, I immediately contacted him for an interview. Jeff is a pastor at Grindstone Church, probably one of the most progressive churches in the Hamilton area. He’s written a new book called Mere Disciple: A Spiritual Guide for Emerging Leaders. I sat down with Jeff (virtually) back in June (in Mexico!) to ask him a few questions about life, writing, and dreaming… Jeff who? Jeff from where? What do you do there?! Originally from Kingston, I moved to Hamilton area to attend Redeemer…

  • Why You Need to Invest Time in a Life Investment Plan!

    Jay Brock
    11 Aug 2010 | 8:50 am
    Inflation sucks. Basically how it works is this: the government prints money, thus there’s more money circulating, thus all the money is worth less. Prices go up.  Buying power per dollar goes down.  If inflation for a year is 7%, that means if you had $100 sitting in your account right now, it would be worth $93 exactly one year from now.  Or your government can print tons, hyper-inflate your economy, and you’ll need a truckload of bills just to go grocery shopping.  Inflation sucks, doesn’t it?!  Moral of the story?  Don’t save too much money.  Money was not…
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    Worthy Christian News

  • Hurricane Earl Closing In On US East Coast

    George Whitten
    2 Sep 2010 | 10:27 am
    WASHINGTON, D.C. (Worthy News)-- The category four storm is on course to lash the coast of North Carolina late Thursday, before shifting to the north. Hurricane and tropical storm warnings and watches are in effect along the Mid-Atlantic coast and as far north as Massachusetts. www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIbp4VJuZywForecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami are warning of heavy rains and damaging winds from the storm, which now has sustained winds of 230 kilometers per hour. Forecasters say a dangerous storm surge could raise water levels along the coast as much as 1.5 meters. The…

  • Tribe Members in Papua New Guinea Turning to Christ Amid Death Threats, Missionaries Say

    George Whitten
    31 Aug 2010 | 11:59 pm
    By Worthy News Asia Service PORT MORESBY, PAPUA NEW GUINEA (Worthy News)-- Amid death threats, over a dozen members of the Mengen tribe in the jungles of Papua New Guinea were baptized after "testifying their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ," missionaries told Worthy News Monday, August 30. "Last week 16 courageous Mengen believers in Papua New Guinea were baptized" including "six married couples," said missionary Rebecca Preheim of mission group New Tribes Mission (NTM). They, "demonstrated their faith in Christ by stepping into the jungle pool the missionaries were using to baptize the…

  • Turkmenistan: Protestant Pastor Faces Five Years Imprisonment

    George Whitten
    31 Aug 2010 | 10:58 pm
    By Joseph C. DeCaro MARY, TURKMENISTAN (Worthy News)-- A Pentecostal pastor remained in police custody Tuesday, August 31, in Turkmenistan where he faces five years imprisonment and confiscation of properties for "large-scale swindling", charges his wife and church members strongly deny, rights activists said. Police arrested Ilmurad Nurliev, pastor of Peace to the World Pentecostal Church, for allegedly swindling money from two women who attended church meetings, although church members deny that ever happened. "I was out at work when the police arrested my husband," said Maya Nurlieva,…

  • 16-Year-Old Christian Girl Rescued from Slave Trade in India

    George Whitten
    31 Aug 2010 | 2:43 am
    by Marshall Ramsey II, Worthy News Correspondent NEW DELHI, India (Worthy News)-- A 16-year old Christian girl was rescued on August 9, 2010, after being held captive for two years, Worthy News has learned. The girl, whose name is being withheld, is a tribal Christian who was sold into slavery along with three other girls (one of which was her 19-year old sister) in 2008. A wave of anti-Christian attacks during that year resulted in approximately 60 girls being captured and sold to neighboring states. The girl's mother accompanied the rescue team the evening of Aug. 9 in the Rohini area of…

  • Tens of Thousands Gather to “Restore Honor” to America

    George Whitten
    29 Aug 2010 | 3:59 pm
    By George Whitten, Worthy News Jerusalem Bureau Chief WASHINGTON, D.C. (Worthy News)-- The "Restoring Honor" rally drew a crowd estimated between 300,000 and 500,000 to Washington D.C. which had a tone of evangelical revival rather than that of a political protest. The gathering focused on religious values and paying tribute to American military personnel. Attendees and those watching were encouraged to donate money to a Florida-based nonprofit group, the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. By the end of Saturday, the event raised more than $5 million. Conservative Talk show host Glenn…
 
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    Worthy Christian Devotional - Bible Based Daily Devotional

  • Embrace the Desert!

    George Whitten
    2 Sep 2010 | 4:23 am
    Psalms 23:2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures: He leads me beside the still waters. The average American who reads this passage probably thinks of green pastures as wide areas of unending soft green grass. But here in Israel the climate is so dry, that there’s really no such thing. Long ago, the shepherds of Israel learned to find grass where most people wouldn’t think to look. Here, green pastures are created as the breeze from the Mediterranean Sea brings moisture into our arid climate. It is from this moisture that a kind of dew settles upon the sides of certain hills…

  • Believe it … or not?

    George Whitten
    1 Sep 2010 | 1:19 am
    1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear: Jonathan Whitfield was preaching to coal miners in England. He asked one man, “What do you believe?” “Well, I believe the same as the church.” “And what does the church believe?” “Well, they believe the same as me.” Seeing he was getting nowhere, Whitfield said, “And what is it that you both believe?” “Well, I suppose the same thing.” The majority…

  • Do it all unto the Lord!

    George Whitten
    31 Aug 2010 | 8:58 am
    Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever you do, do it heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men; Knowing that of the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for you serve the Lord Christ. Rivka, my sweet wife and wonderful mother, once said to me that she feels that she’s not doing enough for the Lord. So I told her a story that I once heard. A woman came in to see her Pastor with the very same concern. She said “Pastor, I just don’t feel like I’ve done much for the Lord with my life…and now I’m old and tired and probably don’t have much time left,…

  • Beware of the explosion!

    George Whitten
    30 Aug 2010 | 2:01 am
    Proverbs 6:27 Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Yesterday, a 400-year dormant volcano erupted in Indonesia spewing lava and sand high into the sky. It reminded me of another volcano that erupted in 1991. Mount Pinatubo, dormant for over 500 years, began to erupt on June 12, 1991, and three days later exploded with twice the power of the 1980 Mount St. Helen’s eruption. The release of power blasted a cubic mile off the mountaintop and the earth shook for eight hours. The eruption produced an ash cloud that rose over 50,000 feet into the atmosphere. If that…

  • We Need Some R&R!

    George Whitten
    27 Aug 2010 | 3:46 am
    Genesis 2:2-3 And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and made it holy: because on it He had rested from all His work which God created and made. With with all the political craziness regarding Israel and her less than friendly neighbors, we’ve been receiving numerous emails expressing concern. Thank you all for your love and prayers. Even in this climate of anxiety, we now prepare to enter, along with all of Israel, into the Shabbat (Sabbath). And as we do, we…
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    Salt and Light

  • A Final Look Back

    Patrick Reyes (@patrickreyes)
    2 Sep 2010 | 10:26 am
    I feel like it’s been forever since I last posted something.  I guess that’s because there has been a little bit of change going on from a career standpoint.  In the course of 2 weeks, I’ve gone from a 13 year career at General Motors to working on the agency side at MRM Worldwide.  I couldn’t be happier.  That’s not to say the decision to leave GM was an easy one.  Let’s face it, 13 years is a long time to spend with a company, especially in the context of today’s world.  There were A TON of things I would have never experienced if it were not…

  • It’s OK To Say “no”

    Patrick Reyes (@patrickreyes)
    19 Aug 2010 | 8:20 pm
    Lake Michigan Sunset at PJ Hoffmaster State Park Life gets in the way.  It gets in the way of what’s truly important and we sometimes forget that it’s OK to say “no” to things just so we can get back on track.  Tonight I was going through Google Reader and Twitter and saw  posts from Becky Johns (Take Control of Your Stream) and Nikki Stephan (22 Important Questions to Ask Yourself).  They were about different topics but for me anyway they had the same message…take a step back. My work (as I’m sure yours) has been ridiculously out of control as of late.

  • Why I Think Foursquare Matters

    Patrick Reyes (@patrickreyes)
    4 Aug 2010 | 7:45 pm
    Over the past week, I’ve seen quite a few blogs and articles on the relevance of Foursquare and any other location based service.  Titles like Why Most Marketers Should Forgo Foursquare and The Time for Foursquare Marketing is…Later? might lead you to believe companies should wait to see if there is any benefit to these services. These articles go on to provide statistics on the usage.  ”Only 4% of U.S. online adults have ever used location-based mobile apps.”  That percentage might seem small but I would argue that although small the opportunity to lead is greater…

  • Detroit Reverse Kicks Off This Week! (VID)

    Patrick Reyes (@patrickreyes)
    1 Aug 2010 | 8:14 pm
    As I was getting ready mentally to start my work week, I started thinking about Detroit Reverse.  It’s hard to believe that this event starts tomorrow!  You’ve heard Bryan Willmert and I talk about this before and what I really want you to get out of my message below is to get involved.  Change doesn’t happen without action.  Now is the time to act.  There are many opportunities to volunteer to help make this event a success for the students participating this week.  I encourage you to check them out and see first hand what Detroit Reverse will do to change the lives…

  • The Secret Sauce Isn’t A Big Secret

    Patrick Reyes (@patrickreyes)
    27 Jul 2010 | 8:46 pm
    As companies continue to “test and learn” and do research on what makes a successful corporate brand page on Facebook, I’m here to tell you that I think I have the “secret sauce”.  However, before I reveal the secret, let’s first go back to when we began to use this tool which has grown to 500 million users.  Why did you jump on the Facebook bandwagon?  What was its appeal?  The most common answer I’ve heard from people was the ability to connect with friends and family.  Facebook provided us with a platform to instantly find out what was going…
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