Who Will Go to Hell? Debate Ignites Firestorm (ABC News)
"Literal hell is a gruesome place, a worm-infested trash heap where children are sacrificed to the flames, according to the Bible, and for those who don't accept salvation or who sin against God, it's forever.
But now, Rob Bell, a young, charismatic pastor at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Mich., suggests that hell doesn't mean eternal damnation. In other words, sinners would get a second chance to weasel their way into God's good graces...".
Friday, April 29, 2011
Unborn Children, Persons?
Drive Grows for States to Recognize Personhood (Washington Post)
"Mississippi voters are likely to be the first in the nation to add to their state constitution “personhood” language that declares unborn children to be persons, effectively outlawing abortion and setting up a potential Supreme Court showdown — if they get a chance to vote on it in November.
On June 6, the Mississippi Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in a pre-emptive court challenge against Measure 26, a ballot question that would define a person as a “human being from the moment of fertilization....”
"Mississippi voters are likely to be the first in the nation to add to their state constitution “personhood” language that declares unborn children to be persons, effectively outlawing abortion and setting up a potential Supreme Court showdown — if they get a chance to vote on it in November.
On June 6, the Mississippi Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in a pre-emptive court challenge against Measure 26, a ballot question that would define a person as a “human being from the moment of fertilization....”
How Much Do You Really Exercise?
For Your Health: Is Sitting a Lethal Activity? (NY Times)
"DR. LEVINE’S MAGIC UNDERWEAR resembled bicycle shorts, black and skintight, but with sensors mounted on the thighs and wires running to a fanny pack. The look was part Euro tourist, part cyborg. Twice a second, 24 hours a day, the magic underwear’s accelerometers and inclinometers would assess every movement I made, however small, and whether I was lying, walking, standing or sitting...."
"DR. LEVINE’S MAGIC UNDERWEAR resembled bicycle shorts, black and skintight, but with sensors mounted on the thighs and wires running to a fanny pack. The look was part Euro tourist, part cyborg. Twice a second, 24 hours a day, the magic underwear’s accelerometers and inclinometers would assess every movement I made, however small, and whether I was lying, walking, standing or sitting...."
Evangelicals & Inclusivism
The Arrogance of Inclusivism (Trevin Wax) "An increasing number of evangelicals find the “inclusivist” view of salvation appealing. This view maintains the traditional Christian belief that “Jesus is the only way to God” while denying the necessity of placing personal conscious faith in Christ for salvation. In other words, there is the possibility that other religious paths lead ultimately to God through Christ, even if the adherents never profess faith in Christ....."
Friday, April 15, 2011
Obessed?
Are Christians Obsessed with Gays & Abortion? (Baptist Press)
COLUMBIA, Tenn. (BP)--"I'm a card-carrying member of the professional religious right. No, that's an understatement. To simply call me a "member" would profoundly understate my antagonistic role in the culture wars. Fans of comic book movies may remember a scene in "X2," the sequel to "X-Men," when Pyro tells a frightened police officer: "You know all those dangerous mutants you hear about in the news? Well I'm the worst one!" and then proceeds to wreak fiery havoc on an entire neighborhood.
I am that havoc-wreaking mutant (in a peaceful sense). I sue governments and individuals who deprive Christians of their constitutional rights. I'm the guy you will see on the "O'Reilly Factor" or hear on conservative talk radio decrying the abortion lobby, opposing jihadist Islam, or fighting to end the leftist ideological monoculture on campus. To the secular and religious left, I am the equivalent of a Sith Lord (or at least a particularly nasty apprentice)...."
COLUMBIA, Tenn. (BP)--"I'm a card-carrying member of the professional religious right. No, that's an understatement. To simply call me a "member" would profoundly understate my antagonistic role in the culture wars. Fans of comic book movies may remember a scene in "X2," the sequel to "X-Men," when Pyro tells a frightened police officer: "You know all those dangerous mutants you hear about in the news? Well I'm the worst one!" and then proceeds to wreak fiery havoc on an entire neighborhood.
I am that havoc-wreaking mutant (in a peaceful sense). I sue governments and individuals who deprive Christians of their constitutional rights. I'm the guy you will see on the "O'Reilly Factor" or hear on conservative talk radio decrying the abortion lobby, opposing jihadist Islam, or fighting to end the leftist ideological monoculture on campus. To the secular and religious left, I am the equivalent of a Sith Lord (or at least a particularly nasty apprentice)...."
Bleacher Ministry?
Your Child’s Sports Team: A Mission Field (Diana Davis)
INDIANAPOLIS (BP)--"Ahh, spring! Kids' sports teams are practicing everywhere. It's such fun to encourage and support your child's extracurricular activities. I admit, however, that I occasionally begrudged the multitudinous hours spent in practice, meets, tournaments and games.
That attitude changed dramatically one day. I was looking around at coaches and players, and their parents, relatives and friends, when I suddenly realized that God had placed me there for a strategic purpose. Here were dozens of people who didn't know Christ, and we would be together in those bleachers for weeks. God had called me to the "bleacher ministry."..."
INDIANAPOLIS (BP)--"Ahh, spring! Kids' sports teams are practicing everywhere. It's such fun to encourage and support your child's extracurricular activities. I admit, however, that I occasionally begrudged the multitudinous hours spent in practice, meets, tournaments and games.
That attitude changed dramatically one day. I was looking around at coaches and players, and their parents, relatives and friends, when I suddenly realized that God had placed me there for a strategic purpose. Here were dozens of people who didn't know Christ, and we would be together in those bleachers for weeks. God had called me to the "bleacher ministry."..."
Religious Persecution: Chinese Tactics
Religious Persecution: Chinese Expand Their Tactics (Baptist Press)
WASHINGTON (BP)--"The Chinese government intensified its pressure against Christians in 2010 for a "fifth straight year of escalating persecution," according to ChinaAid Association, a Christian human rights organization based in Washington.
Beatings, torture, arrests, harassment and church demolitions are among the 90 recorded cases of persecution, a nearly 17 percent increase over 2009, according to a report released by ChinaAid on March 31.
The cases "are just the tip of the iceberg," according to a ChinaAid news release. "The Chinese government's stranglehold on information and the authoritarian regime's other security measures make getting a true picture of the extent of persecution impossible. Nevertheless, the fact that the documented incidences of persecution came from all parts of China and involved people from all levels of society makes the report a useful guide...."
WASHINGTON (BP)--"The Chinese government intensified its pressure against Christians in 2010 for a "fifth straight year of escalating persecution," according to ChinaAid Association, a Christian human rights organization based in Washington.
Beatings, torture, arrests, harassment and church demolitions are among the 90 recorded cases of persecution, a nearly 17 percent increase over 2009, according to a report released by ChinaAid on March 31.
The cases "are just the tip of the iceberg," according to a ChinaAid news release. "The Chinese government's stranglehold on information and the authoritarian regime's other security measures make getting a true picture of the extent of persecution impossible. Nevertheless, the fact that the documented incidences of persecution came from all parts of China and involved people from all levels of society makes the report a useful guide...."
Reality TV
Reality TV: Why Do People Watch? (Kelly Boggs)
ALEXANDRIA, La. (BP)--"Reality TV is the practice whereby a camera crew tracks the day-to-day lives of interesting people and/or families for the purpose of broadcasting the video footage on television for entertainment purposes.
Notice that in my definition, the subjects must be "interesting." There must be something unique about a person or family in order for them to become a reality television star. And unique sometimes means extreme or dysfunctional..."
ALEXANDRIA, La. (BP)--"Reality TV is the practice whereby a camera crew tracks the day-to-day lives of interesting people and/or families for the purpose of broadcasting the video footage on television for entertainment purposes.
Notice that in my definition, the subjects must be "interesting." There must be something unique about a person or family in order for them to become a reality television star. And unique sometimes means extreme or dysfunctional..."
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Husband involved in pornography
Counseling a Wife Whose Husband is Involved in Pornography (Amy Baker)
"I’m counseling a woman whose husband is involved in pornography. She is a Christian, her husband is not. She recently discovered he is caught up in pornography. He told her it is all her fault because she is not intimate enough for him. She believes it to be true and that when she changes, he’ll stop. Any suggestions?
Dear Friend:
It’s distressing to be faced with a husband caught up in pornography, and scripture aptly describes the pain of situations such as this.. I’m glad God has put you in the path of this dear lady to encourage and uplift her. You’ll want to be especially quick to offer hope..."
"I’m counseling a woman whose husband is involved in pornography. She is a Christian, her husband is not. She recently discovered he is caught up in pornography. He told her it is all her fault because she is not intimate enough for him. She believes it to be true and that when she changes, he’ll stop. Any suggestions?
Dear Friend:
It’s distressing to be faced with a husband caught up in pornography, and scripture aptly describes the pain of situations such as this.. I’m glad God has put you in the path of this dear lady to encourage and uplift her. You’ll want to be especially quick to offer hope..."
Porn and Paper Pastors
Porn and Paper Pastors (Dan Phillips)
"Decades ago, I read a disturbingly candid essay by a pastor about his struggles with pornography. It was in Leadership magazine. Years later, two of his realizations still stand out to me.
The author came to see (as I recall) that he was attracted to these images because they were unreal. The women in the pictures never had bad days, were never crabby and demanding, never disrespectful and demeaning. No mood swings. They always suited his mood, his needs, his wants. They were unreal..."
"Decades ago, I read a disturbingly candid essay by a pastor about his struggles with pornography. It was in Leadership magazine. Years later, two of his realizations still stand out to me.
The author came to see (as I recall) that he was attracted to these images because they were unreal. The women in the pictures never had bad days, were never crabby and demanding, never disrespectful and demeaning. No mood swings. They always suited his mood, his needs, his wants. They were unreal..."
Are Christians Obsessed with Gays & Abortion? (Baptist Press)
COLUMBIA, Tenn. (BP)--"I'm a card-carrying member of the professional religious right. No, that's an understatement. To simply call me a "member" would profoundly understate my antagonistic role in the culture wars. Fans of comic book movies may remember a scene in "X2," the sequel to "X-Men," when Pyro tells a frightened police officer: "You know all those dangerous mutants you hear about in the news? Well I'm the worst one!" and then proceeds to wreak fiery havoc on an entire neighborhood...."
COLUMBIA, Tenn. (BP)--"I'm a card-carrying member of the professional religious right. No, that's an understatement. To simply call me a "member" would profoundly understate my antagonistic role in the culture wars. Fans of comic book movies may remember a scene in "X2," the sequel to "X-Men," when Pyro tells a frightened police officer: "You know all those dangerous mutants you hear about in the news? Well I'm the worst one!" and then proceeds to wreak fiery havoc on an entire neighborhood...."
Facebook-Divorce Stats
Facebook-Divorce Stats: Couples Be Wise (Baptist Press)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--"Surveys that show Facebook being cited more and more in divorce cases should make spouses think twice before "friending" someone of the opposite sex, experts say.
A 2010 survey by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers showed that 81 percent of "the nation's top divorce attorneys" reported an increase in social networking websites being used as evidence in divorce cases. Facebook is the leader, being cited in 66 percent of cases that involve online evidence...."
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--"Surveys that show Facebook being cited more and more in divorce cases should make spouses think twice before "friending" someone of the opposite sex, experts say.
A 2010 survey by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers showed that 81 percent of "the nation's top divorce attorneys" reported an increase in social networking websites being used as evidence in divorce cases. Facebook is the leader, being cited in 66 percent of cases that involve online evidence...."
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Sexting
Sexting Epidemic (Denny Burk) ".....So goes the story as it was told in The New York Times over the weekend. And unfortunately, so goes the story in the lives of many teenagers that you may know. The new sexting trend is no distant phenomenon. What is sexting? It’s the practice of sending sexual photos, videos or texts from one cellphone to another, and it is surprisingly common among teenagers. According to one study in 2009, 20% of teenagers have sexted (22% of teen girls, 18% of teen boys, and 11% of young teen girls [ages 13-16])...."
Learn From Critics
Seven Lessons We Can Learn From Critics (Thomas Rainer)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--"I really don't like to be criticized. A criticism can make my entire day gloomy. I have to wonder how someone so thin-skinned ended up in the position where I am today.
Still, when it's all said and done, I have to say that I have benefited in many ways from criticisms. Indeed, part of my training to be a better leader comes from dealing with critics. Let me share with you seven lessons I have learned from them....."
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--"I really don't like to be criticized. A criticism can make my entire day gloomy. I have to wonder how someone so thin-skinned ended up in the position where I am today.
Still, when it's all said and done, I have to say that I have benefited in many ways from criticisms. Indeed, part of my training to be a better leader comes from dealing with critics. Let me share with you seven lessons I have learned from them....."
Bible "Apps"
Smartphone & Tablet Apps are Changing the Way Christians Study the Bible (Baptist Press)
EDMOND, Okla. (BP)--"When pastor Dennis Newkirk stands before his congregation at Henderson Hills Baptist Church in Edmond, Okla., to begin a sermon, he gives a nod to technology. While "open your Bibles" may have been sufficient a decade ago, Newkirk also encourages members to "open" their iPhones, iPads, smartphones and tablet computers.
When it comes to the Bible, there's plenty of "apps for that."
"At first when the iPhones and iPads came out, people were hesitant to bring those into church because people kind of looked at them like they were text messaging during the service," Jeff Wilson, communication and innovation pastor at Henderson Hills, told Baptist Press. "What [Newkirk] has done is he has legitimized what we're trying to do. It's given the people the freedom to be able to go through and open that and do that without having any type of negative connotations......."
EDMOND, Okla. (BP)--"When pastor Dennis Newkirk stands before his congregation at Henderson Hills Baptist Church in Edmond, Okla., to begin a sermon, he gives a nod to technology. While "open your Bibles" may have been sufficient a decade ago, Newkirk also encourages members to "open" their iPhones, iPads, smartphones and tablet computers.
When it comes to the Bible, there's plenty of "apps for that."
"At first when the iPhones and iPads came out, people were hesitant to bring those into church because people kind of looked at them like they were text messaging during the service," Jeff Wilson, communication and innovation pastor at Henderson Hills, told Baptist Press. "What [Newkirk] has done is he has legitimized what we're trying to do. It's given the people the freedom to be able to go through and open that and do that without having any type of negative connotations......."
The Invention of Basketball
Evangelism on the Hardwood: The Invention of Basketball (Colson)
Here’s a trivia question for you: Which major American sport was invented as an evangelistic tool?
How’s your NCAA basketball tournament bracket looking? If you’re like most March Madness fans, I suppose it’s looking a little like Swiss cheese, with big-time favorites such as Pitt, Louisville, University of Texas, and Notre Dame all being defeated by lesser-known opponents.
Here’s a trivia question for you: Which major American sport was invented as an evangelistic tool?
How’s your NCAA basketball tournament bracket looking? If you’re like most March Madness fans, I suppose it’s looking a little like Swiss cheese, with big-time favorites such as Pitt, Louisville, University of Texas, and Notre Dame all being defeated by lesser-known opponents.
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