11.21.2008

Bringing the Gospel, Bringing the Heat

Hear this--It's the Gospel. A different music. A different sub-culture. But it's the same Gospel. We need such little "contextualization" in our evangelism and missions! We should be amazed at how clear the words of Scripture are for every culture or sub-culture or clique to "get it".

11.17.2008

Thinking Biblically About Facebook

(Thanks to Justin Taylor for this link)
Justin Buzzard offers some wise counsel, including 9 potentially negative uses/dangers of Facebook and 6 ways to love God and love others through Facebook. Happy foddering.

11.13.2008

Testimony of Justin Vold

I listened to this recently and highly recommend it. God is beginning to do some amazing things (revival!) that Christians haven't seen for years. It'll be a blessing and a challenge to you:

Justin Vold testimony

11.11.2008

A Riddle for the Me Generation

A riddle for all you who love Twitter type and Facebook hype:

What relation to the Me Generation
Shares Narcissus that should warn us
Of vain-glory and sin's story?


ON AN UGLY FELLOW, by William Cowper

"Beware, my friend, of crystal brook
Or fountain, lest that hideous hook,
Thy nose, thou chance to see;
Narcissus' fate would then be thine,
And self-detested thou would'st pine,
As self-enamoured he."

An Exciting Day at Church

I'm not sure I remember ever having a day at church like this as a kid. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7718596.stm

Israeli police have arrested two clergyman after an argument between monks erupted into a brawl next to the site of Jesus' tomb.

The clash broke out between Armenian and Greek Orthodox monks in Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Six Christian sects divide control of the ancient church. They regularly fight over turf and influence, and Israeli police occasionally intervene.

10.30.2008

Oct 30 : : Leaving at 7:00

The bus leaves at 7:00 tonight. Actually 2 cars will leave b/c the "bus" is experiencing technical difficulties.
Be at our house at 6:45.

10.27.2008

?s to Ask Yourself About Your Job

Some Questions to Ask When Considering a Job

By John Piper January 14, 1997

1. Can you earnestly do all the parts of this job “to the glory of God,” that is, in a way that highlights his superior value over all other things? “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

2. Is taking this job part of a strategy to grow in personal holiness? “For this is the will of God, your sanctification” (1 Thessalonians 4:3).

3. Will this job help or hinder your progress in esteeming the value of knowing Christ Jesus your Lord? “I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:7).

4. Will this job result in inappropriate pressures on you to think or feel or act against your King, Jesus? “You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men” (1 Corinthians 7:23).

5. Will this job help establish an overall life-pattern that will yield a significant involvement in fulfilling God’s great purpose of exalting Christ among all the unreached peoples of the world? “Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).

6. Will this job be worthy of your best energies? “Whatever your hand finds to do, verily, do it with all your might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

7. Will the activities and environment of this job tend to shape you or will you be able to shape it for the Christ-magnifying purposes of God? “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2).

8. Will this job provide an occasion for you to be radically Christian so as to let your light shine for your Father’s sake, or will your participation in the vision of the firm tend by definition to snuff your wick? “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

9. Does the aim of this job cohere with a growing intensity in your life to be radically, publicly, fruitfully devoted to Christ at any cost? “If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Mark 8:34).

10. Will the job feel like a good investment of your life when these “two seconds” of preparation for eternity are over? “You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away” (James 4:14).

11. Does this job fit with why you believe you were created and purchased by Christ? “Everyone who is called by my name…I have created for my glory” (Isaiah 43:6-7). “You have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:20).

12. Does this fit together with the ultimate truth that all things exist for Christ? “For by him all…have been created by [Christ] and for him” (Colossians 1:16).

For the supremacy of God in all things,

Pastor John