Thursday, February 22, 2007

40 days, 40 ways to observe Lent

The Earth Was Warm Before Global Warming Was Cool.

Diana Butler Bass: Giving Up Lent for Lent

In seminary, one of my friends eagerly awaited his yearly celebration of Lent, calling it his “favorite church season.” Since Lent starts with a morbid reminder of human mortality – “remember you are dust and to dust you shall return” – I always wondered if he needed therapy more than ashes on his forehead. As Christmas faded into fond memory, I dreaded Lent’s approach. Only it stood between Easter and me. Forty days of guilt whenever I ate chocolate. ...

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

The Importance of World-Views

One of the most important things that christians need to get sorted out in their thinking is the issue of world-view. By this I mean, what is it that we use as the filter to understand the world and our lives?

At the time of the Reformation this was expressed in terms of authority. What do we look to as the final source of knowledge, revelation and instruction for life? ...

Sexualisation damaging young girls

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Indescribable!

At our monthly worship team meeting tonight we learned several new songs, but this one particularly struck me.

INDESCRIBABLE
Laura Story & Jesse Reeves ...

Entry


From John Alley:

I have been preaching earnestly for the salvation of our own people in recent times. I am convinced that probably half the people in the world who think they are born-again Christians have actually not been regenerated i.e. have not been born-again.

I always have warned congregations I have spoken to over the years. The apostle Paul said to his hearers "test yourselves to see if you are in the faith". This indicates of course that the spiritual state of the Christian cannot be determined by outward appearance, nor the behaviour or even the verbal confession alone, of any believer. ...

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Cell Groups and Multiplication

Our church has long been structured on cell church lines. That is, we believe in large group meetings focussing on Worship and Instruction and small cell groups focussing on Fellowship, Encouragement and Evangelism. ...

Saturday, February 3, 2007

Sunday School Toxic to Children

From John Alley:

We were not smart enough to close down our Sunday School on purpose. It closed down when we were not noticing, and not really thinking about it at all.We had given up our church property because, at the time, we had left the denomination to reach out for a new future to which the Lord was directing us. ...

Cultural Distance

Jesus Loves Osama