The Associated Press reports that an “evangelical” church in Colorado has decided to endorse homosexual monogamy as a valid Christian lifestyle. The pastor of the church reasons this way: “Our position is not one of lenience, but a matter of justice. It’s not that we don’t acknowledge the reality of sin. It’s not a sin to be gay or act in accordance with your nature.” The article also suggests that this particular church has found a middle-way and has transcended the typical conservative-liberal divide on this issue. But as you read on, it becomes clear that the pastor has embraced traditionally liberal interpretations of key biblical texts.
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USA Today on Multi-site Churches
USA Today reports on the burgeoning multi-site church phenomenon. Tim Keller, Mark Driscoll, and Ed Stetzer are interviewed in the article. Here’s how the report describes it: It’s not the traditional American mom-and-pop church, where the same pastor counsels parishioners, visits when they’re ill or marries or buries them. . . This form of high-efficiency evangelism allows thousands of worshipers to hear the same message from a lead pastor or a member of his team, in person or by video at three, five, even a dozen or more locations. Meanwhile, others take over the one-to-one side of ministry — counseling, ceremonies and small-group guidance. . . The multisite model can…
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On Matt Chandler
Matt Chandler received a pathology report today indicating that he has cancer (read the statement here). I will be praying for him and his family, and I’m sure that many of you will be as well. I’m grateful that in the midst of this trial, he’s got the smell of grace all over him. Yesterday, he wrote this on his Twitter site: “The pathology report is secondary at best. A good report doesn’t mean much, and bad report doesn’t mean anything. My days are numbered and not by this report.” So true. We love you and will be praying for you, brother. Psalm 139:16: “All the days ordained for me…
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Christmas and Easter Christians
Here’s an important report on Christians who only attend church at Christmas and Easter. Don’t miss this one. Here’s an excerpt: ‘The Burnett family and thousands of other Christmas-and-Easter — or C&E — Christians are gearing up for “the Season” which runs from roughly Thanksgiving to Easter. C&E Christians relish church holiday services, or feel duty bound to attend, but refuse to show up the rest of the year. But as churches grow more aggressive about courting new members, C&E Christians are devising more complex strategies for navigating their church visits.’ Read the rest here.
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Carl Trueman Is Not My Friend
Just to be clear. Though I like Carl Trueman’s writings, I have never met him, and he is not my friend. Moreover, if we ever were to meet, I’m sure he wouldn’t like me. Nevertheless, you should read his latest article on Reformation21. It’s devastating and good. And there’s not a one of us who doesn’t need to hear it. The article lambastes Christians who use the web to puff-up their own egos. Here’s an excerpt:
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Piper to the Pope
Here’s what John Piper would say if he had two minutes with the Pope.
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Are Humans the Problem?
More abortions. More birth-control. That’s how we can fix the “global warming” problem being discussed at the U.N.’s climate change conference in Copenhagen. At least that’s what Diane Francis argues in her column for Financial Post titled “The real inconvenient truth.” She writes, ‘The “inconvenient truth” overhanging the UN’s Copenhagen conference is not that the climate is warming or cooling, but that humans are overpopulating the world. ‘A planetary law, such as China’s one-child policy, is the only way to reverse the disastrous global birthrate currently, which is one million births every four days.
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Christ-Centered Gift Idea for Kids
I think that perhaps the best book that we have ever bought for our children is The Jesus Storybook Bible. It tells the story of scripture in a way that is engaging to kids, all the while showing that Jesus is the point of both the Old and New Testaments. That is why the subtitle of the book is Every Story Whispers His Name. If your kids don’t have this book, you should get it for them this Christmas. Many of you are no doubt familiar with this book. What some of you may not know is that the book is now available in a deluxe edition. The deluxe edition…
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ACE on The Manhattan Declaration
Be sure to read Lig Duncan’s remarks on “The Manhattan Declaration” which he wrote on behalf of the Alliance for Confessing Evangelicals (ACE). This statement is important. It addresses why ACE council members did or did not sign the document. For those who want to understand what’s at stake in this conversation, I think the key lines are here: “Those who did sign the document believe that it is a statement of solidarity, not of ecumenism, and that it represents the kind of principled co-belligerency advocated by, for instance, Francis Schaeffer and James Boice. . . The Council members who signed do not believe that the document commits them to…
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Skip Ryan Testimony
Three years ago, Dr. Skip Ryan stepped down from being senior pastor of Park Cities Presbyterian Church in Dallas, Texas. On Sunday, a friend alerted me to a testimony that Dr. Ryan shared last summer at the 37th General Assembly of the PCA in Orlando, Florida. Testimony of Skip Ryan- 37th General Assembly of the PCA [audio:http://covenantersipc.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/skip-ryan.mp3][mp3 download] I’m most encouraged to hear that Dr. Ryan remains an active member of the church he once led. That in itself is a testimony of grace. Currently Dr. Ryan serves as Chancellor and Professor of Practical Theology at Redeemer Seminary in Dallas, Texas. I think this is worth a listen. Dr. Skip Ryan…