Depressing Article from CT
The Scandal of the Public Evangelical | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction
The Scandal of the Public Evangelical
What we really have to offer the world.
Mark Galli | posted 7/02/2009 09:10AMIt’s been a tough couple of months for evangelical public figures. We discovered that Carrie Prejean, Miss California, sudden heroine in the gay marriage debate, posed nude for the cameras to kick-start her modeling career.
Then there were the Gosselins, a seemingly devout couple who were sacrificially raising a “ginormous” family on reality TV for all to see their Christian witness. They have decided to divorce. They mouthed the usual mantra, about doing it for the sake of the kids—and the hearts of the devout nationwide sank in despair.
Our Last K-5 Graduation
Honestly, last night was a roller coaster of emotions. We were so happy that Reilly was finishing Kindergarten, but melancholy that he was the last cousin to do so. Ariel, Allison, Carissa, and now Reilly all are in grade school.
He did win the trophy he wanted to win and he received $50 in cash from everyone and he got the DS game he wanted… all told it was the best night of his life.
We pray that he and Allison will love the Lord with all their hearts.
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That would be the best graduation present.
Doug’s Blog: Christianity Today’s Tragic Endorsement of Pro-Homosexual Filmmaking
via Doug Phillips
Christianity Today’s Tragic Endorsement of Pro-Homosexual Filmmaking
Saint Harvey Gets Three Stars
By Geoffrey Botkin
For several years, frustrated American readers have been wondering just who in the world is discipling the writers at Christianity Today magazine. The recent CT review of Milk may hold clues – important theological clues. The review appears to reflect doctrines of an obscure religious order which uses uniquely creative theology to unchain the human spirit, respect diversity, and expiate stigmatic guilt, especially in the interpretation of popular culture. See the rest at Doug’s Blog: Christianity Today’s Tragic Endorsement of Pro-Homosexual Filmmaking
The Next Big Things via www.christianitytoday.com
The Next Big Things via www.christianitytoday.com
Boy, I hope he is really off in his predictions 
The Next BIG Things
by Url Scaramanga
I’ve
been giving a lot of thought to the state of the church as we enter a
new year. In these uncertain, times we naturally look to reliable and
wise voices to guide us through the fog. And who is more reliable and
wise than yours truly? To help you plan ahead, I’ve compiled my list of
the top five predictions to watch for in 2009.
The next BIG word: Post-Missional
There was a time when everything was “postmodern.” Then we all
“emerged.” Now it’s nearly impossible to find a ministry that isn’t
passionately “missional.” But in 2009, I predict the truly innovative
ministries will be “post-missional.” No one will actually know what
post-missional means, but the word will become ubiquitous, finding its
way into the subtitles of at least 34 percent of all ministry books
published in 2009.
The next BIG outreach trend: The 30-Day Alcohol Challenge
A number of churches have gotten enormous attention for variations of
the 30-Day Sex Challenge. These ministries have tried to attract the
sexually-charged unchurched by proclaiming that Christians have better
sex and more of it. In this “more is more” philosophy of Christian
liberty, I predict the next hot outreach trend will focus on alcohol as
a way of deconstructing the church’s tee-totaling reputation. Pastors
will challenge church members over 21 to drink every day for a month—an
expensive proposition for Lutherans who only drink imports.
The next BIG book: REVEAL 3: You Go, I’m Staying Right Here.
The Willow Creek Association published REVEAL: Where Are You? in 2007. Last year brought REVEAL 2: Follow Me. In 2009 I predict we’ll see the publication of a third book in the series, REVEAL 3: You Go, I’m Staying Right Here.
The new book will outline why changes to Willow’s ministry strategy
really aren’t, and how it’s more seeker-sensitive than ever.
The next BIG celebrity pastor: Rod Blagojevich
I predict that after the embattled, corrupt governor of Illinois is
forcibly removed from office, he will have a “come to Jesus” moment at
the federal penitentiary. He will emerge with a new mission and one of
the most marketable conversion stories since Stephen Baldwin’s. Because
of his bountiful mane, Brother Blago (as he’ll be known) will likely
end up a televangelist.
The next BIG catch phrase: “Jesus is my bailout plan”
With the government issuing bailouts to banks, mortgage brokers, and
the Big 3, I predict that the “bailout” language will quickly be
adapted to Christian T-shirts and bumper stickers. Other possible
phrases to be seen in ‘09: “My 401k is in Heaven,” “Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit: These Big 3 Don’t Need a Bailout,” and “SEC: Secured
Eternally in Christ.”
Url Scaramanga is the moderator of Out of Ur.
Walk the Aisle from christianitytoday.com
Walk the Aisle | Christian History
Story Behind
Walk the Aisle
Popularized by frontier camp meetings and Charles Finney’s “anxious bench,” the altar call became an evangelistic staple of American churches.
Douglas A. Sweeney and Mark C. Rogers
Walk the Aisle
The pastor closes his sermon: “The Holy Spirit bids you come. The congregation, praying, hoping, expectant, bids you come. On the first note of the first stanza, come down one of these stairways, down one of these aisles. May angels attend you. May the Holy Spirit of God encourage you. May the presence of Jesus walk by your side as you come, while we stand and while we sing.” And come they do. Week after week, in churches all across the America—and other parts of the world—scenes like this play out at the end of thousands of sermons. The congregation stands and sings “Just As I Am” or “Come Just as You Are.” Sinners walk the aisle and pray for salvation.
This common evangelistic method, known as the altar call or the public invitation, has not always been around. Successful evangelists such as George Whitefield, Jonathan Edwards, and John Wesley never gave an altar call. In fact, they did not even know what it was. They invited their hearers passionately to come to Christ by faith and regularly counseled anxious sinners after their services. But they did not call sinners to make a public, physical response after evangelistic appeals. So where did the altar call come from? When did it begin?
Pastor Appreciation Month Specials from Logos.com
Great offer from www.logos.com and an offer for the Sermon File Add-on for free this month.
Pass it on!
I use my Libronix almost everyday if not several times during the day. It is simply amazing.
Here is the link for the sermon file add-on and the discount code.
Will the Last Honest Reporter Turn Out the Lights?
I have read some of Card’s articles before I believe. Good stuff here.
http://www.ldsmag.com/ideas/081017light.html
HT:www.drudgereport.com
Ray Boltz Comes Out | Liveblog | Christianity Today
Ray Boltz Comes Out | Liveblog | Christianity Today
Ray Boltz Comes Out
Mark Moring
Ray Boltz, who sold about 4.5 million records before retiring from Christian music a few years ago, came out of the closet Friday to announce that he’s gay.
In an interview with the gay magazine The Washington Blade, Boltz said he came out to his family and some close friends in December 2004, but only now decided to go public with the news.
“I’d denied it ever since I was a kid,” Boltz, 55, told the magazine. “I became a Christian, I thought that was the way to deal with this and I prayed hard and tried for 30-some years and then at the end, I was just going, ‘I’m still gay. I know I am.’ And I just got to the place where I couldn’t take it anymore … when I was going through all this darkness, I thought, ‘Just end this.’”
One reason Boltz decided to come out now might be because he’s performing Sunday at Jesus Metropolitan Community Church in Indianapolis, and then next Sunday, Sept. 21, at the Metropolitan Community Church of Washington, D.C. Both congregations are a part of a denomination that embraces the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community.
Boltz is perhaps best known for his song “Thank You,” about a dream in which a Christian thanks the Sunday school teacher who led him to Jesus. It was the GMA song of the year in 1990. Other Boltz hits include “Watch the Lamb,” “The Anchor Holds,” and “I Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb.” (see rest of article)
A Wasted Morning…
Sometimes it never goes right….
A lost Nintendo DS.
An accused younger brother, who always is to blame …
A mad search resulting in many “lost” things found and …
3 clean rooms!
No Nintendo DS
Two Vehicles torn apart…
Weeping…
Distraction…
Finally,
Found, younger brother not to blame …
Smugness on his part, embarrassment on hers.
A lost morning for me
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