Christianity Today International 50th Anniversary – The Top 25 Most Influential Preachers

The Top 25 Most Influential Preachers
The top 10, plus 15 honorable mentions, selected by the staff of PreachingToday.com

In celebration of its 50th anniversary, Christianity Today International has selected the “25 Most Influential Preachers of the Past 50 Years.”

This list recognizes and honors the most-influential preachers of the period from 1956 to 2006. The chief criteria in choosing the preachers were the following: evangelical theology; outstanding preaching skills; great influence, particularly through preaching. Thus, the list does not attempt to name the best preachers or the best-known preachers, but the most-influential preachers—evangelical preachers who have significantly affected many others through their preaching.

The names were nominated by respected specialists in preaching. That list was then reviewed and refined by Craig Brian Larson, editor of PreachingToday.com and Preaching Today Audio Series. He is, with Haddon Robinson, general editor of The Art & Craft of Biblical Preaching (Zondervan, 2005).

Catalyst | The Leadership Filter for What’s Next in the Church

The Leadership Life of the Senior Pastor, Part 2
By Dan Reiland

Every profession has its set of pitfalls. Policemen deal with risk every day and battle cynicism that comes from who and what they see. Social workers wrestle with massive case loads that challenge personal touch. Professional athletes and entertainers face the oppressive competition, and on the list goes.

So what about senior pastors? There are no pitfalls that are exclusive to any profession, but there are a few that clearly and consistently rise to the top of what senior pastors communicate are “the things that just seem to take me out.” What are among the top pitfalls they face on a regular basis?

In terms of pitfalls, I’m not including sexual temptation and sin in general because it lacks relevance, but because, in contrast, it always exists. It should never be dismissed. Further, it is an area so huge and complex it merits an article all to itself. So when it comes to this area – guard your heart! Beyond this Grand Canyon-sized pitfall there are others that are more subtle, but nonetheless can have devastating results. The following three things are what pastors tell me are the “real deal” that competes with being and achieving all that God has intended.

What’s an ‘AWOL machine’? – CWN

What’s an ‘AWOL machine’?

By Rev. Mark H. Creech

While attending the annual convention of the American Council on Alcohol Problems (ACAP) in September of last year, Dan Ireland, president of that organization, came up to me and asked: “Mark, when are you folks in North Carolina going to do something about those AWOL machines being marketed out of Greensboro.” My response was one of complete surprise, responding: “What’s an AWOL machine?” That’s when Ireland educated me about one of the newest and worst forms of alcohol abuse, I believe, ever known to man.

AWOL stands for “Alcohol Without Liquid” — a device consisting of an oxygen generator and a hand-held vaporizer into which the user pours his or her favorite alcoholic beverage. The device produces a mist of alcohol inhaled through the mouth, allowing the alcohol to enter the bloodstream through the lungs and traveling straight to the brain. Many medical experts say the machines, marketed as “the ultimate party toy,” produce a quick and intense high off alcohol.

Some have gone so far as to say AWOL is to drinking what smoking crack is to snorting cocaine. Teresa A. Barton, interim executive director of the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy, said the devices have “no purpose other than to get you drunk.” [1]

July+2007+-+Why+Do+We+Always+Fight+About+Money?

Why Do We Always Fight About Money?

How you and your spouse approach finances can cause your relationship to sink or soar. We’ve learned the hard way.

by Scott and Bethany PalmerWhen we began telling friends, clients, and acquaintances that we were writing a book on how couples can agree about money, we nearly always received one of two responses. Some people would tell us, “Hurry up and get it done. My wife and I need help—lots of help—in that area.” Others would say, “Oh, you can interview my husband and me for your book.” Then they would quickly add, “We’re a perfect example of what not to do when it comes to dealing with money in marriage.”

Very Good List. We sent this article to all our active students at www.sfwbc.edu

Students : Top Web Tools for College Students

Top Web Tools for College Students

February 15, 2007 08:00 AM

I have been in college almost three years now and have been using many different Web tools that saved me time, helped me learn more and, most importantly, did not cost a penny. Here are 10 tools that I recommend for every college student:

1) Book Finder: Over a year you can end up spending thousands of dollars on books. I am one of those poor students who struggles for money, so the less I pay for books, the better. Book Finder is a neat site/tool that allows you to compare prices on more than 125 million books for sale from 4,000 sellers. So there’s no need to go to Amazon, Half.com and all the other book sites when Book Finder can search them for you.

Technorati Tags: college web tools

Baptist Press – Flood of pornography breaching the church – News with a Christian Perspective

Flood of pornography breaching the church

Posted on Jul 6, 2007 | by Jerry Pierce/Southern Baptist TEXAN

GRAPEVINE, Texas (BP)–Divorce lawyers are noting its increasing influence.

In Great Britain, it’s blamed for a 20 percent jump in sexual assaults perpetrated by kids as young as 11.

New Jersey says 141 sex offenders used MySpace | U.S. | Reuters

We must ever be on guard. How can parents let children be so alone online.

FlexMail 2007 on PocketGear.com

THE Email program for Windows Mobile Phone. With HTML mail support and customizable POP checking, this is the end all mail program. Now 50% off.

Salt Lake Tribune – Mormon milestone: Missionary army has enlisted 1 million since church’s 1830 founding

PROVO – Standing on the grounds of the LDS Missionary Training Center before a statue of Mormonism’s first missionary, LDS apostle M. Russell Ballard announced Monday that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has called its millionth missionary since the faith’s founding in 1830.
    “The first million was hard,” said Elder Dieter Uchtdorf, a member of the church’s Quorum of Twelve Apostles who sits on the church’s missionary executive committee. “The second million will be easy. [The number of missionaries] will grow and it will grow fast.”

Baptist Press – Why revival tarries – News with a Christian Perspective
Why revival tarries
Henry Blackaby
Posted on Jul 2, 2007

ATLANTA (BP)–Ezekiel 18:31b-32 is the heart cry of God to His covenant people, Israel: “‘… why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,’ says the Lord God. ‘Therefore, turn and live!’” God had just reminded His people that if “a righteous man turns away from his righteousness … and dies … it is because of the iniquity that he has done that he dies” (Ezekiel 18:24-26, 26).