Friday, May 30, 2008

Not Keeping This Quiet

5-6Remember, our Message is not about ourselves; we're proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you. It started when God said, "Light up the darkness!" and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful.

7-12If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That's to prevent anyone from confusing God's incomparable power with us. As it is, there's not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we're not much to look at. We've been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we're not demoralized; we're not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we've been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn't left our side; we've been thrown down, but we haven't broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus' sake, which makes Jesus' life all the more evident in us. While we're going through the worst, you're getting in on the best!

13-15We're not keeping this quiet, not on your life. Just like the psalmist who wrote, "I believed it, so I said it," we say what we believe. And what we believe is that the One who raised up the Master Jesus will just as certainly raise us up with you, alive. Every detail works to your advantage and to God's glory: more and more grace, more and more people, more and more praise!


2 Corinthians 4 | The Message

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Manhood '08

There's a great lineup of speakers for PK Atlanta August 1-2:

Promise Keepers 2008 Theme:

The Manhood ‘08 program is aimed at equipping men to get a handle on their life and mission, amidst a shifting culture that is sometimes outright hostile. Promise Keepers intends to deliver the message that a real man loves God more than anything else and is willing to progressively receive his help in becoming more like Jesus in how he thinks, lives, and relates to others this side of heaven. So, how are you doing in your daily walk? Are you responding in the Spirit or in the flesh?

Gospel of the Kingdom

Excerpts from The Importance of the Kingdom Today by John Piper

Matthew 24:14

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, as a testimony to all nations; and then the end will come.
...

Now we begin three weeks on the nature of the kingdom of God, or more specifically, the "gospel of the kingdom." What is the kingdom of God? What is the "gospel of the kingdom"?

The reason this is important is plain from Matthew 24:14. Jesus said that "this gospel of the kingdom" will be preached until all the nations of the world have heard it as a testimony. This means that until all the unreached nations (=peoples, not countries) have a bona fide testimony called "the gospel of the kingdom," it is the duty of every generation of Christians to press on with proclaiming it to the world. That means us, because there are still today thousands of unreached nations (peoples). And if that is our task, we must know what the "gospel of the kingdom" is. So it is tremendously important for us to study this together.

...

So, what is "the gospel of the kingdom"? The gospel of the kingdom is the good news that in Jesus God's kingly power and authority is breaking into the world like never before: he is ruling in a new way to save his people from their sins and deliver them from their enemies and reveal his glory and establish peace and righteousness in the earth.

Now this could be easily misunderstood. And next week we will see that almost everyone did misunderstand it. They did not realize that the victories of the kingdom would be won by suffering and death.

But this week what we want to make clear is that "the gospel of the kingdom" is the gospel prophesied in Isaiah 52:7; and it is the gospel that Jesus preached; and it is the gospel that he told us to preach to all the nations; and it is the gospel preached by the early church.

We've seen the connection between Jesus' message and the Old Testament. Now let's see the connection between Jesus' message and the message of the early church. Did the early church proclaim the gospel of the kingdom?

There are three important summary statements in the book of Acts that show the preaching of the early church was the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom. In Acts 8:12 it says that Philip was preaching in Samaria and "they believed Philip as he preached GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF GOD and the name of Jesus Christ." "Good news about the kingdom of God" is substantially the same as "the gospel of the kingdom."

Acts 19:8 sums up Paul's preaching in Ephesus like this, "And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, arguing and pleading about THE KINGDOM OF GOD." In Acts 20:25 when Paul sums up his own ministry in Ephesus among the elders, he says, "And now, behold, I know that all you among whom I have gone PREACHING THE KINGDOM will see my face no more." His ministry was a ministry of "preaching the kingdom."

Then at the very end of the book (Acts 28:30–31) and the end of Paul's life when he was under arrest in Rome, his preaching is summed up like this: "And he lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, PREACHING THE KINGDOM OF GOD and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ quite openly and unhindered."

In his letters Paul refers to the kingdom of God 14 times. For example in Colossians 4:11 he refers to his partners in ministry as "my fellow workers for THE KINGDOM OF GOD." He refers to his own ministry in 1 Corinthians 4:20 like this, "THE KINGDOM OF GOD does not consist in talk but in power." And in Romans 14:17 he says, "THE KINGDOM GOD is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."

So here is my conclusion from today. The "gospel of the kingdom" was foretold in the Old Testament, preached by Jesus—brought by Jesus!—preached by the early church, and should be preached by us until all the peoples hear it. This gospel of the kingdom is the good news that, at the coming of Jesus, God moved into this world in an unprecedented way. Since Jesus has come, God is exerting his right to rule in new and powerful ways. He is attacking his enemy the devil in new ways. He has dealt with sin in a new way. He is gathering a people in a new way. He is empowering his representatives in new ways. And in all this he is reigning as king. This is the coming and the advancement of his kingdom.

...

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Full Gospel

Excerpts from The Gospel in All Its Forms by Tim Keller at Leadership Journal
[Please go to link to read entire article]

The gospel has been described as a pool in which a toddler can wade and yet an elephant can swim. It is both simple enough to tell to a child and profound enough for the greatest minds to explore. Indeed, even angels never tire of looking into it (1 Peter 1:12). Humans are by no means angels, however, so rather than contemplating it, we argue about it.

A generation ago evangelicals agreed on "the simple gospel": (1) God made you and wants to have a relationship with you, (2) but your sin separates you from God. (3) Jesus took the punishment your sins deserved, (4) so if you repent from sins and trust in him for your salvation, you will be forgiven, justified, and accepted freely by grace, and indwelt with his Spirit until you die and go to heaven.

There are today at least two major criticisms of this simple formulation. Many say that it is too individualistic, that Christ's salvation is not so much to bring individual happiness as to bring peace, justice, and a new creation. A second criticism is that there is no one "simple gospel" because "everything is contextual" and the Bible itself contains many gospel presentations that exist in tension with each other.

...

Simon Gathercole distills a three-point outline that both Paul and the Synoptic writers held in common. (See "The Gospel of Paul and the Gospel of the Kingdom" in God's Power to Save, ed. Chris Green Apollos/Inter-Varsity Press, UK, 2006.) He writes that Paul's good news was, first, that Jesus was the promised Messianic King and Son of God come to earth as a servant, in human form. (Rom. 1:3-4; Phil. 2:4ff.)

Second, by his death and resurrection, Jesus atoned for our sin and secured our justification by grace, not by our works (1 Cor. 15:3ff.) Third, on the cross Jesus broke the dominion of sin and evil over us (Col. 2:13-15) and at his return he will complete what he began by the renewal of the entire material creation and the resurrection of our bodies (Rom 8:18ff.)

Gathercole then traces these same three aspects in the Synoptics' teaching that Jesus, the Messiah, is the divine Son of God (Mark 1:1) who died as a substitutionary ransom for the many (Mark 10:45), who has conquered the demonic present age with its sin and evil (Mark 1:14-2:10) and will return to regenerate the material world (Matt. 19:28.)

If I had to put this outline in a single statement, I might do it like this: Through the person and work of Jesus Christ, God fully accomplishes salvation for us, rescuing us from judgment for sin into fellowship with him, and then restores the creation in which we can enjoy our new life together with him forever.

One of these elements was at the heart of the older gospel messages, namely, salvation is by grace not works. It was the last element that was usually missing, namely that grace restores nature, as the Dutch theologian Herman Bavinck put it. When the third, "eschatological" element is left out, Christians get the impression that nothing much about this world matters. Theoretically, grasping the full outline should make Christians interested in both evangelistic conversions as well as service to our neighbor and working for peace and justice in the world.

...

Recently I studied all the places in the Greek Bible where forms of the word gospel were used, and I was overwhelmed at how often it is used to denote not a way of life—not what we do—but a verbal proclamation of what Jesus has done and how an individual gets right with God. Often people who talk about the good news as mainly doing peace and justice refer to it as "the gospel of the kingdom." But to receive the kingdom as a little child (Mt. 18:3) and to believe in Christ's name and be born of God (Jn. 1:12-13) is the same thing—it's the way one becomes a Christian (Jn. 3:3, 5).

Having said this, I must admit that so many of us who revel in the classic gospel of "grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone" largely ignore the eschatological implications of the gospel.

Texts like Luke 4:18 and Luke 6:20-35 show the implication of the gospel that the broken-hearted, unrecognized, and oppressed now have a central place in the economy of the Christian community, while the powerful and successful are humbled. Paul tells Peter that attitudes of racial and cultural superiority are "not in line" with the gospel of grace (Gal 2:14). Generosity to the poor will flow from those who are holding fast to the gospel as their profession (2 Cor. 9:13).

In Romans 2:16 Paul says that Christ's return to judge the earth was part of his gospel, and if you read Psalm 96:10ff you'll know why. The earth will be renewed and even the trees will be singing for joy. And if the trees will be able to dance and sing under the cosmos-renewing power of his Kingship—what will we be able to do?

If this final renewal of the material world was part of Paul's good news, we should not be surprised to see that Jesus healed and fed while preaching the gospel as signs and foretastes of this coming kingdom (Mt. 9:35).

When we realize that Jesus is going to someday destroy hunger, disease, poverty, injustice, and death itself, it makes Christianity what C. S. Lewis called a "fighting religion" when we are confronted with a city slum or a cancer ward. This full version of the gospel reminds us that God created both the material and the spiritual, and is going to redeem both the material and the spiritual.

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Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Neuronal

Excerpt from In a Pit with a Lion On a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson:

"Just as a computer hard drive needs to be defragmented to optimize performance, our minds need to be defragmented. So how do we defragment our faith? How do we renew our minds? How do we get ourselves out of the mental pit we've gotten ourselves into? The way to upgrade your mind is to download Scripture.

Let me put Paul's instructions in neurological context.

Doctors Avi Karni and Leslie Ungerleider of the National Institute of Mental Health did a fascinating study asking patients to perform a simple motor task -- a finger-tapping exercise. As subjects tapped, the doctors conducted an MRI to identify what part of the brain was being activated. The subjects then practiced the finger-tapping exercise daily for four weeks. At the end of the four-week period, the brain scan was repeated. In each instance, it revealed that the area involved in the task had expanded. That simple task -- a finger-tapping exercise -- literally recruited new nerve cells and rewired neuronal connections.

When we read in Scripture, we are recruiting new nerve cells and rewiring neuronal connections. In a sense, we are downloading a new operating system that reconfigures the mind. We stop thinking human thoughts and start thinking God thoughts.

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.

How do we accomplish that command?

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.

When we read Scripture, we engage in spiritual tapping. Our brains are rewired in alignment with the Word, and we develop the mind of Christ. We think His thoughts."

[p. 46]

Spiritual Discernment

Neil Anderson Daily in Christ

SPIRITUAL SENSITIVITY

Hebrews 5:14
Solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil

A good systematic theology is the foundation upon which we build our lives. It is to our walk with God what our skeleton is to our body. It holds us together and keeps us in the right form. But right doctrine is never an end in itself. True doctrine governs our relationship with God and man. Many Christians have a relationship with God that is only theological, not personal. Those accustomed to the word of righteousness should be sensitive to the personal leading of the Holy Spirit.

Solomon started with a love for God. He "became greater than all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom. And all the earth was seeking the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom which God had put in his heart" (1 Kings 10:23, 24). He had the ability to discern, but moral demise led to his downfall. His wives turned his heart away, and he was no longer accustomed to the words of righteousness. His heart was not wholly devoted to the Lord, and the kingdom of God was torn in two.

I'm not sure my senses would have been trained if God hadn't called me into the ministry of setting captives free. If we are going to minister in a world of deception, we had better learn to rely on God and not lean on our own understanding. We need more than intellectual discernment; we need spiritual discernment. All spiritual discernment is on the plane of good and evil. Because the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit, we should be able to sense when something is right or wrong.

The Holy Spirit is our first line of defense. Our personal relationship with God is made possible by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit who does not silently sit by in the face of danger, but prompts us to choose what is true and right.

Prayer:

Thank You, Lord, for the protection of Your indwelling Holy Spirit. Forgive me for the times I have failed to discern good from evil because I ignored or overlooked Your guidance.

Monday, May 26, 2008

Grateful

Excerpt from Memorial Day 2008 by Noel Piper

...

Today, my heart goes out especially to the ones whose memories are fresh and raw, hardly far enough in the past to be called “memory”—friends and family of American military personnel who will not return to them from the Middle East.

...


This is a weekend for all Americans to give thanks for what God has given us through the sacrifice of all the men and women who have died for our country. However great the faults of our government and whatever our dissatisfactions, we have much to be grateful for.

...

Thank you, Lord, for the ones who have died to protect our freedom here. And thank you even more for your kingdom, which can never be threatened by any enemy.

Friday, May 23, 2008

Stress

Christian Working Woman Transcript

Friday, May 23, 2008 - Biblical Stress Reducers


I believe as Christians we have unique ways of dealing with stress because the Bible gives us practical advice and the Holy Spirit provides the power to apply them to our lives. So, I'm concluding my thoughts on how we can use biblical principles to help reduce stress in our lives.

Idea number nine: Ask yourself, "Is this a worry or a concern?" If you can't do anything about a situation, it's a worry. If you can do something, it's a concern. If it's a worry, then you and I know right away what God's Word tells us about worrying.

Jesus said, Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear...Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life. Worry is probably the greatest stress factor we deal with. And it does nothing but harm. Jesus said don't worry. Paul wrote we should not be anxious about anything. When the situation is beyond your control and you cannot do anything, instead of worrying, trust. Just keep turning it over to Jesus and refuse to worry.

If you're dealing with a concern, do what you can and then let go of it. Maybe you need to take some action in a stressful situation. The more you procrastinate, the more stress you'll feel. Do what you can do, and then turn it over to the Lord. Once you've done all you can do, don't let it turn into a worry.

If we all just practiced that one stress reducing principle from the Bible, I believe we'd probably reduce our stress levels by fifty to seventy percent.

And my last idea, number ten: Take one day at a time and live in the moment. Jesus told us not to borrow trouble from yesterday or tomorrow. Just take what today brings you. Many times our stress is due to our tendency to live in the past and worry about what's happened, or to live in fear of what's going to happen in the future. Learn to live just today; it's all you've got. If you won't borrow trouble from yesterday or tomorrow, you will be a much more relaxed, less stressful person.

I sure hope you'll put some of these biblical stress reducers to work in your life regularly.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Not Deceived

Neil Anderson Daily in Christ

RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT

1 John 3:7, 8
The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as he is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil

God's Word is the basis for righteous judgment. Is the person proclaiming the Word of God? Is it biblically true? Accepting the fact that God's Word is both foundational and central, however, is not the only criterion. Satan will quote Scripture. He even had the audacity to quote it to Jesus. Any organization can make up a doctrinal statement. I have even encountered hard-core Satanists who have infiltrated the church and occupied leadership positions in evangelical ministries.

Paul warned, "For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their deeds" (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).

I know of a false teacher who teaches the Bible. In fact, he teaches the Bible very well, but his moral life is decadent. Two of our seminary students were mesmerized by his intellectual brilliance. I personally wouldn't care to do intellectual battle with him, but I wouldn't want to battle Satan intellectually either. This man indulges the flesh in its corrupt desires and despises authority, which are traits identified in 2 Peter 2:10 as those of a false prophet.

I'm always amazed at how gullible some people are and how easily deceived. "He's such a wonderful speaker!" "What a charismatic person!" "I could feel the electricity in the air!" They're not judging righteously; they're judging by appearance (or worse, by how they feel). John wrote, "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment" (John 7:24); and "Little children, let no one deceive you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil" (1 John 3:7, 8).

Prayer:

Dear Father, I desire the capacity for righteous judgment based on Your Word to deal effectively with the enemy's subtle schemes.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Tensions

Excerpts from Don Carson Talks About Culture by Derek Thomas

[Interview with DC = Don Carson and DT = Derek Thomas]

...

DT: Mark Dever says in a blurb on the cover of the book that "Carson exposes and explodes 'egregious reductionisms'. It's one of those phrases which I feel is now going to become part of our vocabulary, but what exactly did he mean when he said this?

DC: Mark, bless his heart, is gently poking fun at my inadequate vocabulary (note his quotation marks!). Point taken. Since he is the one who fastened on this expression, perhaps you should ask him which reductionisms (egregious or otherwise) he felt were best exploded in the book. For better or worse, I suppose I am commonly tempted to question arguments positions that can apparently claim a verse or two for support, or that simply relies on inherited tradition, without wrestling with the massive biblical themes that are relevant to the discussion. In other words, the position itself depends on some sort of "reductionism": the voice of Scripture is "reduced" to a handful of prooftexts that in fact get the balance of things wrong. Few topics are more susceptible to this sort of error than the tension between Christ and culture, not least because the issues are complicated. I'm sure I've tumbled into a few of my own errors in this book, and equally sure that they will be pointed out to me.

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DT: Why don't you like the terminology of "redeeming the culture"?

DC: Redemption terminology in the NT is so bound up with Christ's work for and in the church that to extend it to whatever good we do in the broader world risks a shift in focus. Not for a moment do I want to deny that we are to serve as salt and light, that exiles may be called to do good in the pagan cities where Providence has appointed them to live (Jer 29), that every square foot of this world is under Christ's universal reign (even though that reign is still being contested), that the nations of the world will bring their "goods" into the Jerusalem that comes down from above. But many of those who speak easily and fluently of redeeming the culture soon focus all their energy shaping fiscal and political policies and the like, and merely assume the gospel. A gospel that is merely assumed, that does no more than perk away in the background while the focus of our attention is on the "redemption" of the culture in which we find ourselves, is lost within a generation or two. At the same time, I worry about Christians who focus their attention so narrowly on getting people "saved" that they care little about doing good to all people, even if especially to the household of God. Getting this right is not easy, and inevitably priorities will shift a little in various parts of the world, under various regimes. Part of the complexity of the discussion, I think, is bound up with what the church as church is responsible for, and what Christians as Christians are responsible for: I have argued that failure to make this distinction tends to lead toward sad conclusions.

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Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Life Path

Excerpt from A Faith or a Way? by Adam Ellis (May 18, 2008 Bulletin)

"The goal/mission of the church is not simply to get others to mentally agree with the same ideas as we do. The church is not simply an "intellectual and moral society." The church is a catalyst for the Kingdom of God. Our "beliefs" should lead to a shared worldview in which we see ourselves inside the story of God ... as the people of God ... on a mission from God ... for and to the world."

Made Known

I never cease to be amazed by verse 10:

7 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. 8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. 13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

Ephesians 3 (ESV)

Deliverance

Excerpts from May 2008 Newsletter article: The Night the Angel Didn't Come by Jon Bloom

Luke says it so quickly, so matter-of-factly: “[Herod] killed James the brother of John with the sword” (Acts 12:2). In the flow of the story this little phrase sets the stage for Peter’s dramatic prison rescue by the angel. So that’s what we remember. When Peter later wrote, “The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials” (2 Peter 2:9), this is the sort of rescue that easily comes to mind.

But the night that James sat in prison the angel didn’t come. I’m sure he prayed for an angel. He knew God could send one if he wanted to. An angel had already rescued him and the other disciples once before, in chapter 5. But this night there was no bright light, no chains falling off, no sleeping guards. Just desperate prayers and fitful dozing—if he slept at all.

...

Jesus allowed the sword to fall on James as intentionally as he opened Peter’s prison door. So the death of James is as crucial for us to remember as the rescue of Peter. Why did God let James die?

This question is relevant because at some point most of us will find ourselves facing death, pleading for deliverance, and not receiving what we think we are asking for. And it points to a difficult lesson that all of Jesus’ disciples must learn: Jesus often has different priorities than we do. What may feel desperately urgent to us may not be urgent to him—at least not in the same way.

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And so do we. Unless Jesus returns first (maranatha!), every one of us will face a storm that will kill us. And our initial response may be similar to the disciples’ in the boat: Jesus, don’t you care that I am perishing? In that moment we need to remember that he cares deeply. He who wept beside Lazarus’ tomb will weep with us—and he will raise us. And we need to remember that he knows what death is like and will be with us and help us say as he said to the Father, “Not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39).

And we also need to remember James, who faced death “refusing to accept release that [he] might rise again to a better life” (Hebrews 11:35). There is the real key to understanding Acts 12:2: Jesus let James die because he had a better life to give him. James was not being neglected by Jesus. He was in fact the first of the Twelve to experience what Jesus prayed for in John 17:24: “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me from the foundation of the world.” Peter’s deliverance from prison was remarkable. But he lived to die another day. James experienced the true deliverance: death being swallowed up by the Resurrection and the Life.

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Monday, May 19, 2008

Mature Believers

Excerpts from Willow Creek's 'Huge Shift' by Matt Branaugh in ChristianityToday

After modeling a seeker-sensitive approach to church growth for three decades, Willow Creek Community Church now plans to gear its weekend services toward mature believers seeking to grow in their faith.

The change comes on the heels of an ongoing four-year research effort first made public late last summer in Reveal: Where Are You?, a book coauthored by executive pastor Greg Hawkins. Hawkins said during an annual student ministries conference in April that Willow Creek would also replace its midweek services with classes on theology and the Bible.

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But the analysis in Reveal, which surveyed congregants at Willow Creek and six other churches, suggested that evangelistic impact was greater from those who self-reported as "close to Christ" or "Christ-centered" than from new church attendees. In addition, a quarter of the "close to Christ" and "Christcentered" crowd described themselves as spiritually "stalled" or "dissatisfied" with the role of the church in their spiritual growth. Even more alarming to Willow Creek: About a quarter of the "stalled" segment and 63 percent of the "dissatisfied" segment contemplated leaving the church.

As Willow Creek expanded its research into churches of varying geographic locations, sizes, and ethnic and denominational backgrounds, the church said the same general pattern emerged, an indication that the problem extends beyond Willow Creek.

...

"They got more challenging" by bringing in teaching pastors like John Ortberg, Atwater said, only to see attendance drop. "I think they've paid the price before in different ways to address their early, surface-level depth, and maybe this is another step in that trend."

Greg Pritchard, author of Willow Creek Seeker Services, told CT the church "sporadically has recognized it was not teaching a robust enough biblical theology and needed to turn the ship around.

...

Eternal Values

Neil Anderson Daily in Christ

APPEARANCE, PERFORMANCE AND STATUS

Psalm 103:13
Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him

If you seek your identity or sense of worth in the temporal values of this world instead of in Christ, your family can become a threat to your pursuits in the following three ways.

Appearance. What image is more appealing to a woman: a youthful, athletic figure or the sometimes sagging frame of a responsible mother? Say good-bye to the bikini with those stretch marks! Mothers who are hooked on appearance may end up resenting their children for robbing them of their girlish figures.

Performance. If you as a husband/father get your identity from your work, your primary goal may be to climb the corporate ladder. That means working some evenings and weekends to get ahead. "I'd like to be at your Little League game, son," you say, "but I can't. I'll make it up to you later." Only later may be too late in some cases. What about performing well as a husband/father or wife/mother? Granted, few outside your home will see that performance. But God will and your children will! And in 20 years the world will see the results of your performance in the lives of your godly, well-adjusted children.

Status. Getting married and having children used to offer a woman favorable social status. Now a wife/mother is "just" a housewife. A status-seeking woman will see her family as a bother or a hindrance. This is the driving force behind the abortion advocates. They want the "freedom" to have sex without the responsibility of having children. But what's wrong with being a responsible, caring mother? What can be more challenging and satisfying than raising godly children today? Perhaps it's too challenging for some; that's why they are opting out.

If your sense of worth comes through your identity in Christ and your godly character, then your family will serve as the essential foundation for your personal development, since God works primarily through committed relationships.

Prayer:

Lord, help me see my family as Your instruments to turn my focus to eternal values instead of temporal rewards.

Surprised by God

Excerpts from James K. A. Smith Teaching a Calvinist to Dance from ChristianityToday

It can be a little intimidating in a Reformed context to admit that one is Pentecostal. It's a bit like being at the ballet and letting it slip that you're partial to NASCAR and country music. Both claims tend to clear a room. And yet I happily define myself as a Reformed charismatic, a Pentecostal Calvinist.

...

Reformed folks praise, value, honor, and make central the sovereignty of God. The theological giants of the Reformed tradition—Calvin, Edwards, Kuyper, and others—have put God's sovereignty at the center and heart of a Reformed "world- and life-view." God is the Lord of the cosmos; God is free from having to meet our expectations; God is sovereign in his election of the people of God.

I think there is an interesting way in which Pentecostals live out a spirituality that takes that sovereignty really, really seriously. In particular, I think Pentecostal spirituality and charismatic worship take the sovereignty of God so seriously that you might actually be surprised by God every once in a while. You are open and expectant that the Spirit of God is sometimes going to surprise you, because God is free to act in ways that might differ from your set of expectations.

...

Reformed folk, particularly in the Dutch tradition of Kuyper and Dooyeweerd, often emphasize the "goodness of creation"— that God created a material universe that he pronounced "very good" (Gen. 1:31). And although it is fallen, God is redeeming this world, not redeeming us out of it. An important piece of that affirmation is the goodness of embodiment—the goodness of the stuff we bump into, the bodies we inhabit.

But that's precisely why I've always found it a bit strange that Reformed worship so often treats human beings as if we're brains-on-a-stick. All week long we talk about how good creation is, how good embodiment is. But then we have habits of worship that merely deposit great ideas in our heads, making us rather cerebral disciples. Despite all our talk about the goodness of creation and embodiment, in Reformed worship the body doesn't show up that much.

Pentecostals, on the other hand, embody their spirituality. I would argue that Pentecostal worship is the extension of the Reformed intuition about the goodness of creation and the goodness of embodiment. We can see this in just a few examples.

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Friday, May 16, 2008

Harmony

Christian Working Woman Transcript

Friday, May 16, 2008 - Numbering Our Days

I was never particularly good at math, were you? But there's a new math that I truly want to learn. It is the Bible math of learning to number my days rightly.

Numbering our days rightly means that we learn to see everything that happens in light of its meaning in eternity, where we will have numberless days. Whether we have five days left to live, or five thousand or more, they are fleeting and brief and very short compared to numberless days. Yet what we do with our few numbered days will have a great impact on our numberless days. Look closely at this passage from 2 Peter 3:

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. "Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.

Numbering our days rightly produces holy and godly lives, and that kind of life is good for the Judgment Seat because it will not go up in smoke but will produce jewels and gold. But not only is it good for numberless days, living a godly life is the best thing for us while we're still in these numbered days.

Living "holy and godly" just means you are living in harmony with God's plan for your life and that's where we find meaning and joy and peace and contentment and freedom from fear and guilt. This new Bible math called numbering your days is the key to fulfillment here on earth as well as a beautiful experience when you stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Want to learn this new math? Start praying that God will teach you. Remember to say to yourself many times each day: "What difference will this make in eternity?" That's how you number your days rightly.

My book, Looking with Forever Eyes, was written to help us learn to number our days rightly, and I’m offering you a copy of this book for a donation in any amount. I really believe it will give you many more practical help in acquiring this life-changing attitude of living now in the light of eternity. So, contact us today, and for a donation in any amount, we’ll send you a copy of my book, Looking with Forever Eyes.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Epidemic

Excerpts from Leaving Christ(ianity) -- A Christian Epidemic by C. Michael Patton at Parchment and Pen

I sat down with a young lady a couple of weeks ago and had a conversation. This was a conversation about faith—her faith. Better put, this was a conversation about a faith that once was and is no more. She was a very interesting and bright lady—inquisitive, well-read, and suspicious. She began by telling me that she was a Christian (past tense) and had since left the faith. Christ was once a part of her confession, but, as she recounted to me, after a long voyage of not finding sufficient answers for her doubts, she believes that she had no choice but to follow her own integrity and renounce Christ all together. I asked her what her problems were and she became very emotional. It was like I represented Christianity and she was ready to take it all out on me.

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Over 31 million Americans are saying “check please” to the church, and are off to find answers elsewhere. Jeff Schadt, coordinator of Youth Transition Network, says thousands of youth fall away from the church when transitioning from high school to college. He and other youth leaders estimate that 65 to 94 percent of high school students stop attending church after graduating. From my studies and experience I find that leaving church is many times the first visible step in one’s pilgrimage away from Christ.

The question that we must ask is a very simple one: Why? Why are people leaving the faith at this epidemic and alarming rate? In my studies, I have found that the two primary reasons people leave the faith are 1) intellectual challenges and 2) bad theology or misplaced beliefs.

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Everyone will go through the doubt phase. Everyone should ask questions about the faith. If you have not asked the “How do you know . . .” questions about the message of the Gospel, this is not a good thing. We should be challenged to think through these questions early in the faith. The Church needs to rethink its education program. Expositional preaching, while important, is not enough. Did you hear that? Expositional preaching is not enough. It does not provide the discipleship venue that is vital for us to prevent and overcome this epidemic. We should not fool ourselves into thinking that it does.

The church has been on an intellectual diet for the last century and we are suffering from theological atrophy. What else do you expect when we have replaced theological discipleship with a gluttonous promotion of entertainment, numbers, and fast-food Christianity that can produce nothing more than a veneer of faith seasoned for departure?

The solution: to reform our educational program in the church. To lay theological foundations through critical thinking. To understand that the great commission is to make disciples, not simply converts. And most importantly, we must pray that God will grant a revival of the mind knowing that without the power of the Holy Spirit, no amount of intellectual persuasion can change an antagonistic heart.

Without these, the epidemic of leaving Christ will only worsen.

“The heart will not accept what the mind rejects.” —Jonathan Edwards

Evangelical

See responses from many including Cal Thomas, Chuck Colson, N.T. Wright, and more, to the question:

"Some Christian leaders issued An Evangelical Manifesto last week to depoliticize the term 'evangelical.' "We evangelicals are defined theologically, and not politically, socially or culturally," they said. In your mind, what is the definition of an evangelical?"

at On Faith at washingtonpost.com

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Dependency

Neil Anderson Daily in Christ

DEPENDENCE ON GOD

John 15:5
I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from me you can do nothing

The fourth qualification for demonstrating authority over rulers and authorities in the spiritual realm is dependence . A Spirit-filled life is dependent on God the Father. Even Jesus and the Holy Spirit modeled this dependency. Jesus said: "I can do nothing on My own initiative" (John 5:30); "Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you" (John 17:7 NIV ); "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak" (John 16:13).

Spiritual authority is not an independent authority. We don't charge out on our own initiative like some kind of evangelical ghostbusters to hunt down the devil and engage him in combat. God's primary call is for each of us to focus on the ministry of the kingdom: loving, caring, preaching, teaching, praying, etc. However, when demonic powers challenge us in the course of pursuing this ministry, we deal with them on the basis of our authority in Christ and our dependence on Him. Then we carry on with our primary task.

Nor is the spiritual authority of the believer an authority to be exercised over other believers. We are to be "subject to one another in the fear of Christ" (Ephesians 5:21). There is a God-established authority on earth which governs the social structures of government, work, home and church (Romans 13:1-7). It is critically important that we submit to these governing authorities unless they operate outside the scope of their authority, command us to do something against God's will, or restrict us from doing what God has commanded. Then we must obey God rather than men.

Prayer:

Lord, it's a great relief to know I can depend on You. You are the Rock, the Almighty, unchanging, full of glory. I praise You.

More Art Than Science

"I think our generation is approaching ministry more as an art than a science. Since the Enlightenment, 'doing church' has been seen as a science, and it was seen as linear, organized, with clearcut leadership principles. Our generation doesn't see things that way anymore. We approach things more creatively, more organically."

-Dave Terpstra is teaching pastor of The Next Level Church in Denver. Taken from "Next & Level" in the Spring 2008 issue of Leadership journal.

Out of Context: Dave Terstra | Out of Ur

Glory of God

Excerpt from A Divine and Supernatural Light Immediately Imparted to the Soul by the Spirit of God by John Piper

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Focus with me for a few moments on the root of Jonathan Edwards' God-entranced vision of all things. The root is sunk into three levels of salvation. And what makes Edwards' vision of all things so God-entranced and God-centered and God-exalting is that in each of these three levels of salvation God himself is sovereign and decisive and beautiful. You can see these three levels of salvation in 2 Corinthians 4:4 and 4:6.

I'll point them out and then come back and look at them more closely with you. Focus first on the last part of verse 4.

"In their case [those who are perishing] the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."

Then notice the close parallel to the last words of verse 4 in the last part of verse 6:

"For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

Notice the similar words in verses 4 and 6:

Verse 4: "the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ who is the image of God."

Verse 6: "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ."

In both verses the word "light" is parallel. Then the words "gospel" and "knowledge" are parallel: "Light of the gospel" and "light of knowledge." Then the term "glory of Christ" is parallel to "glory of God": "the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ" and "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God." And in both verses Paul adds words to show how the "glory of God" is in fact "the glory of Christ." He does it in verse 4 by saying Christ is the "image of God," so Christ's glory is the glory of God. And he does it in verse 6 by saying that God's glory is seen "in the face of Christ," so God's glory is the glory of Christ.

Now notice the three levels of salvation in these two parallel verses. The deepest level of salvation is in the term, "the glory of Christ, who is the image of God," or "the glory of God in the face of Christ." This is the deepest level of Edwards' vision - the glory of God in Christ, or the glory of Christ who is God. You cannot go beneath this. There is no deeper reality and no greater value than the glory of God in Christ. There is no prize and no satisfaction beyond this. When you have this, you are at the end. You are home. The glory of God is not a means to anything greater. This is ultimate, absolute reality. All true salvation ends here, not before and not beyond. There is no beyond. The glory of God in Christ is what makes the gospel "gospel."

The second level of salvation, moving up from the deepest level of the glory of Christ, is the gospel of Christ. This is the good news (verse 4, or, as verse 6 says, the "knowledge") of what Christ has done in history to make access to the deepest level of salvation possible for guilty sinners. What makes the good news ultimately good is that it opens the way for sinners to approach the glory of God with all-satisfying joy instead of being incinerated. We will come back in a moment to see what Christ did.

The third level of salvation, moving up from the glory of Christ and the gospel of Christ is the shining of divine light in the human heart that enables it to see and savor the gospel of the glory of Christ. You see this in the word "light" in verses 4: "light of the gospel" and verse 6: "light of the knowledge." But you see most clearly how this light comes in verse 6: "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light. . ." It is not enough to hear "the gospel" mentioned in verse 4, or to have "the knowledge" mentioned in verse 6. There must be a divine work of illumination or awakening. God himself, by his Spirit, must do an act of creation as he did at the beginning of the universe when he said, "Let there be light." Edwards will call this act of God "regeneration" - being born again.

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Faith

"The goal of faith is not the elimination of risk. In fact, the greatest risk is taking no risks. Isn't that the principle in the parable of the talents? Jesus commends the two men who take a risk and make a return. But the servant who buries his talent and breaks even is called "wicked." Why? Because he wasn't willing to take a calculated risk. Maybe risk taking is at the heart of righteousness. Maybe righteousness has less to do with not doing anything wrong and more to do with doing things right. Righteousness is using our God-given gifts to their God-given potential. And that requires risk. Maybe our view of sanctification is too sanitized. Maybe our view of Christianity is too civilized. Maybe we need to reconsider what made our spiritual ancestors heroic."

In a Pit with a Lion On a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson, p. 109.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Perspective

From yesterday's Christian Working Woman

Monday, May 12, 2008 - Numbering Our Days

How many days do you have left? That's a very sobering, somewhat unsettling question, isn't it? We don't like to think about the fact that our days here on this earth are numbered. Oh, we all know the number behind us–how many days we've lived already. But thinking about how many are left–well, that's not something we think about too often. In fact, most of us live as though our days are without number.

In Psalm 39 David wrote:

Show me, O Lord, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life.

And in Psalm 90 Moses prayed:

Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

These men of God were not asking for a gift of prophecy, but rather for a change in perspective. They understood that living in the knowledge of how fleeting life is becomes a life-changing attitude, and they recognized that this attitude doesn't come naturally to anyone. So they prayed for the ability to number their days.

I would suggest that all of us need to pray this prayer daily: "Lord, teach me to number my days correctly." You see, how you number your days has everything to do with how you live your life! Let me try to illustrate this for you.

Let's say that you learn that a coworker has been given a promotion that you deserve. That is hurtful and your natural reaction is anger, retribution, self-defense. But suppose you knew you only had five more days here on this earth. Would that loss of promotion have much, if any, effect on you? No, I doubt it, because since your days are few, a lost promotion isn't really important, is it?

That's what David meant when he prayed "let me know how fleeting is my life." You see, this is an attitude that has to come from God because it is not a natural, human tendency to number our days aright. Moses prayed "Teach me to number my days aright," and we need to sign up for that course as well. It is an attitude that has to be learned and imposed into our lives, but when we learn this lesson, we gain a heart of wisdom.

Boldness

Neil Anderson Daily in Christ

SPIRIT-INSPIRED BOLDNESS

Joshua 1:9
Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go

The third qualification for demonstrating authority over rulers and authorities in the spiritual realm is boldness . A Spirit-filled Christian is characterized by a true, godly sense of courage and boldness in spiritual warfare. On the eve of taking authority over the Promised Land, Joshua was challenged four times to be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:6, 7, 9, 18). When the early church prayed about their mission of sharing the gospel in Jerusalem, "the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak the word of God with boldness" (Acts 4:31). Spirit-inspired boldness is behind every successful advance in the church today.

The opposite of boldness is cowardice, fear and unbelief. Notice what God thinks about these characteristics:

I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. He who overcomes shall inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murders and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Revelation 21:6-8).

That's pretty serious--cowards lined up at the lake of fire alongside murderers, sorcerers and idolaters! It should serve to motivate us to exercise authority with boldness (2 Timothy 1:7).

A lot of Christians I meet fear the dark side of the spiritual world. It's true that a little knowledge can be a dangerous and frightful thing, but a growing knowledge of the truth is liberating. Seminary students have told me, "I used to be afraid of that stuff, but now I know who I am in Christ, and I'm not afraid anymore." That's exactly the perception we should have.

Prayer:

Lord, increase my courage to light candles of truth and dispel the darkness in Your name. I will fear only You today, not the enemy.

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Another World

If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. If none of my earthly pleasures satisfy it, that does not mean that the universe is a fraud. Probably earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it, but only to arouse it, to suggest the real thing.

— C. S. Lewis

(found at New City Church)

Respectable Sins

Excerpts from Every Sin? at GucciLittlePiggy

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For some time I've struggled with (or rebelled against to be more accurate) the sinfulness of owning music that really isn't mine. ...

Like most sins I struggle with, I've tried to rationalize having them a thousand different ways. ...

Yet for a long season my conscience has been pricked on this issue. For reasons I can't finger, the burden has been heavier on me of late. The proverbial straw that broke the camel's back arrived with the words of a man who lived roughly 400 years before the iPod was ever invented. His name was John Owen, a English Puritan pastor who wrote a little diddy entitled On the Mortification of Sin. I read it a year or two ago in The Works of John Owen, Vol. 6.

For some reason (again, go figure) I decided to reread some of my initial highlights just to catch up with what Owens was saying in dealing with sin and temptation. Almost immediately I read this sentence marked in green highlighter:

Without sincerity and diligence in a universality of obedience,
there is no mortification of any one perplexing lust to be obtained.
(Owen, 40)

In essence, if I'm to really see sin killed (mortified) in my life to any degree I need to have my heart set with "sincerity and diligence in a universality of obedience" - I must desire to obey Christ in every aspect of my life. That did it for me! It was inescapable for the next steps I needed to take. Jerry Bridges writes about "respectable sins" concerning those areas of disobedience that we tolerate. I haven't read the book, but on my list is stealing music. It had to go.

So I'm trying to repent of it. I spent well over an hour trying to clean up my computer, iPhone and iTunes from all the illegal stuff I've kept. ...

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Tuesday, May 06, 2008

Needs

Christian Working Woman Transcript

Tuesday, May 06, 2008 - Overcoming Our Addictions


Most of us have some habits or areas where we are more controlled than we are in control. Do you see any addictive tendencies in your own life–anything out of balance that tends to control you?

Many people are addicted to other people; we call that a dependency these days. I know women who are addicted to men who are very bad for them, but they can't seem to break away. I've had many letters from people involved in affairs and they are addicted to those relationships. The relationship is not making them happy, it is ruining their lives, and in one case a woman was considering suicide because of her affair with a man. But she said she could not break away from that man.

And of course as Christians we have an enemy, Satan, who is very good at false advertising. When Satan tempted Eve, he told her how wise and god-like and invincible she would be if she ate the forbidden fruit. Never did he tell her that by this act, sin would enter the world, and as a result one of her sons would kill another, sorrow and troubles would come upon all people, and there would be wars and destruction throughout all generations. Eve bought Satan’s false advertising.

But don't be too hard on Eve, because we often buy Satan's lies ourselves. And that's one way we become addicted. Something looks good, such as an affair, it feels good for awhile, and before we know it, we're addicted. But we soon discover the big lie, and often it's too late; we've become addicted.

Now, why are we susceptible to these addictions? Well, isn't it because we are looking for something to satisfy a perceived need? If you scratch the surface, you'll find that most if not all of our addictions are a result of trying to meet our needs in our own way, instead of accepting God's provision for our needs. The needs are legitimate, but our way of meeting them is often destructive.

Details

Excerpt of Aesthetics post by Mark Batterson at Evotional

I was reading the latest issue of Fast Company and came across an article that inspired me. Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide are known for their extraordinary customer service. upscale hotels. Here are some of the ways they serve their guests and create a unique hotel experience.

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Listen, that may sound extravagant. But what if we put half that effort in welcoming people into our worship environments? What I'm trying to say is this: aesthetics are important. If you don't believe me, then why are a dozen chapters in Exodus devoted to the aesthetics of the tabernacle. God is in the details. He details everything from the color of the curtains to the recipe for the incense!

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Monday, May 05, 2008

Mission

Excerpts from How Public Is the Gospel? by Collin Hansen at Christianity Today

Has anyone seen N.T. Wright sleep? It seems like no week can end before the Anglican bishop of Durham publishes yet another groundbreaking book. Christianity Today recently excerpted his latest effort, Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church.

As with his other works, Wright has encouraged his many fans on both sides of the Atlantic even as he has provoked some critics. Wright's position as a leader in the Church of England exposes him to jabs from all sides. But this role also makes him quite influential. He wants to hold out the gospel for a largely post-Christian United Kingdom, in part by refuting the faulty scholarship of biblical critics. But he also wants to challenge Christians to see the gospel in a new way. Thus, he takes issue with Luther's view on justification by faith alone. He also worries that many Christians have unbiblically privatized the gospel, stripping the Good News of its public imperative.

This last point has renewed a vigorous theological debate. Wright argues in Surprised By Hope that the "mission of the church is nothing more or less than the outworking, in the power of the Spirit, of Jesus' bodily resurrection. It is the anticipation of the time when God will fill the earth with his glory, transform the old heavens and earth into the new, and raise his children from the dead to populate and rule over the redeemed world he has made."

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Tim Keller and his Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City fall somewhere between Wright and Dever. Writing for Leadership, Keller answered this year's question for the Christian Vision Project, "Is our gospel too small?" (The article is not yet available online.) In so doing he took a stab at defining the gospel. "Through the person and work of Jesus Christ, God fully accomplishes salvation for us, rescuing us from the judgment for sin into fellowship with him, and then restores the creation in which we can enjoy our new life together with him forever."

It's the last clause of this sentence that makes the difference. Is God's plan to renew creation part of the gospel message? If so, is it the center of the gospel or a peripheral component of the Good News? Again, how you answer these questions affects how you will live, and how you will expect fellow church members to act.

"When the third, 'eschatological' element is left out, Christians get the impression that nothing much about this world matters," Keller wrote. "Theoretically, grasping the full outline should make Christians interested in both evangelistic conversions as well as service to our neighbor and working for peace and justice in the world."

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Church Space

Excerpts from Welcome to 'My-Space' by Joshua Ross at NewWineskins

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In October of 2007, the leaders at Southwest Central Church (SWC) chose to take a cookout outside of the city gates (the church property) and to enter into a sun-deprived courtyard at the Louvre.

The apartment manager was surprisingly enthusiastic about our desire to “hang out” with her residents. She had one suggestion—she wanted us to arrange the cookout anytime but the heaviest drinking times, Saturday to Sunday night. In her mind, the thought of mingling church folks (those who are supposed to have it together) with beer drinkers was embarrassing. Our church chose Sunday afternoon. We would trust our people to make their own decisions if an ice cold beverage was offered their way.

I wish I could write that we entered into this experience with no fear, only love and conviction. That would be far short of the truth. Nervousness and apprehension gave birth to low expectations. At SWC, we are like most churches; we are attached to church space. We find it easy to invite people to enter into our territory where home field advantage is appreciated and desired. Stepping on to someone else’s turf means that one must relinquish power, control, and every hint of manipulation. Possibly unknowingly, we have replaced the imperative in the Great Commission “Go” with “Come.” We seem to be content with playing the “Jesus game” on our own turf.
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Over the next two hours, we stepped onto the turf of our nearest neighbors and we made friends. We didn’t enter with an agenda, but only with a craving to join our fellow human beings on a journey in life. Over three-hundred and fifty hamburgers and hotdogs were grilled, yet that was only a foretaste of what God did among us.

We walked around the complex, inviting bystanders to come and join our feast. I knocked on the door of José. We shook hands and had small talk. Small talk was how I figured out how much English he knew, and I already knew how little Spanish I know!

Although, I easily passed high school Spanish, I can’t really speak Spanish. I was grateful that José was able to speak broken English. Within the first five minutes, I learned that he had moved to the United States from Guatemala.

Back home, he was hunted by drug lords. Unable to find him, they put bullets into his mother. José had left a life of utter darkness and emptiness—running from enemies, drugs, alcohol, and gang activity—in search of something new.

He held his young daughter who was salvaging the last few crumbs from a Doritos bag. José asked, “Why are you here anyways?”

“Because of Jesus,” I said.
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Addictions

Christian Working Woman Transcript

Monday, May 05, 2008 - Overcoming Our Addictions


I want to look at addictions. Now, your first reaction may be, "Well, this won't apply to me, because I'm not addicted to anything." Usually we associate addiction with alcohol or drugs.

But you know, I'm beginning to realize that most of us are addicted to something or other. We may call it by a more acceptable name such as a bad habit, or stuck in our old ruts, or some kind of dependency. They sound a little better than addiction, but in reality they are addictions.

An addiction is anything that tends to control your behavior rather than you controlling it. We are addicted to that which we cannot quit or that which we cannot keep in balance in our lives.

For example, people are addicted to work; you and I know many workaholics who literally are driven to work all the time. Others are quite the opposite, addicted to laziness. I know people who are addicted to spending money; they buy things they don't need and can't afford, but they can't seem to stop. All of us can relate to people who are addicted to food, and seem to be unable to stop their eating binges.

Think of the people who are addicted to sports, especially in this country. It goes far beyond enjoying a competitive game of some sort; their lives revolve around sports, either in participation or as a spectator. My son-in-law says at one time he was addicted to running. Others are addicted to television.

A listener indicated she was addicted to all her "stuff," and she just couldn't throw it out. A good friend of mine fights the addiction of biting her nails. When you have no control over yourself and can't do what you know you should do, you have to call it addiction.

I started to think about this addiction problem when God convicted me of some areas of addiction in my life. It wasn't much fun to have to admit there were some habits in my life which though not in themselves harmful, were starting to control me more than I was controlling them.

I'm certainly no expert on the topic, but I'd like to explore it with you. Think about areas of addiction in your life today. Maybe there are some you need to face up to, as I did.

Trustworthy

Neil Anderson Daily in Christ

BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED

1 Corinthians 4:2
It is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy

An important concept about the will of God that my students hear at seminary is, "Bloom where you are planted." Be the best you can be at your present assignment, and stay there until God calls you elsewhere.

Oftentimes my students will say, "There are no openings to serve at my church!" My response, "Oh, yes there are. They're probably begging for someone to teach third-grade boys." The momentary silence reveals this thought: "But anyone can teach third-grade boys. I had something bigger in mind." Like maybe an opening in the Trinity!

Take the opportunity before you and teach those third-grade boys. Decide to be the best teacher they've ever had. You may start with only three little boys, but at the end of that year you've got 12 boys excited about God, Sunday school and church. Next year, when the personnel committee needs to fill leadership positions, they say, "We need some new life on the Christian education committee." Somebody aware of the fruit you are bearing says, "There's this guy doing a bang-up job with our third graders. Let's ask him to be on the committee."

Now that you are on the Christian education committee, decide to be the best committee member you can be. It won't be long before they recognize your initiative and say, "We could use this person on the board." Determine to become the best possible board member you can. Then an opening develops for an intern and guess who the people suggest! People hearing of your faithfulness and aware of the fruit you are bearing ask you to consider a full-time pastoral position. So you become the best youth pastor, small group pastor, or college minister you can possibly be. Before long you'll be bearing so much fruit that other churches will be inquiring about your availability.

God guides those who bloom where they are planted.

Prayer:

I want to be faithful in the small things, Lord, so You will advance me to greater responsibilities in Your timing and according to Your will.

Thursday, May 01, 2008

Pray

Today is the National Day of Prayer.

2008 Prayer for Our Nation

Dr. Ravi Zacharias
2008 Honorary Chairman, National Day of Prayer Task Force


Holy Father, in a world where so many are hungry,
You have given us food in abundance;

In a world where so many are hurting,
You offer to bind up our wounds;

In a world where so many are lonely,
You offer friendship to every heart;

In a world longing for peace,
You offer hope.

Yet, we are so stubborn and resistant.
Have mercy upon us, Lord.

Our nation is at a crossroads this year;
we look to you to be our strength and shield.

Please give us the guidance to elect one who will honor you
and to respond to the wisdom from above
so that our hope may be renewed and our blessings be treasured.

In God's holy name.