Bad reporting on church discipline case in Florida
December 22, 2008
At the GetReligion blog, Mollie Ziegler Hemingway discusses the way journalists have reported the case of Rebecca Hancock, who says she has been harassed and threatened with public rebuke by the leaders of Grace Community Church in Mandarin, Florida:
“There are so many problems with the coverage that it’s hard to get it all down. Note the last line of the first paragraph above. It’s not that the church is going to go ‘public’ with her sin, they’re going ‘very public.’ There’s really no need to overly dramatize the situation, particularly when the woman in question has taken her situation to the national media — and not the congregation.”
Warren Piece
December 19, 2008
The blogosphere is abuzz with reactions to the announcement that Saddleback pastor/Purpose-Driven Life author/lightning rod Rick Warren will pray at Obama’s swearing-in:
“One thing is clear– controversial appointments and actions do indeed smoke out people’s real views and feelings, and often those feelings are subChristian at best, and positively carnal at worst.”
“I have issues with Warren theologically and ecclesiastically, but am in broad sympathy with much of his politics and so it was interesting to see him clobbered as too right wing for a change.”
“I will give our new president major credit if he still lets Rick Warren say the prayer.”
“I’d like to ask Mr. Warren how civil it is to cut up a pre-born baby with a knife and hurl out the parts with the trash?”
“Whatever you think of Warren, make no mistake: he’s a social conservative, my favorite kind.”
“I am not throwing Rick Warren to the wolves over this. He now finds himself in a whirlwind, and he will not be the last.”
Jordan Ballor also has a more in-depth wrap-up and discussion of the announcement, at the Acton Powerblog.
‘Top Ten Most-Read Sermons of 2008′
December 17, 2008
… from Preaching Today. Titles include:
1. Jeremiah Wright’s “The Audacity of Hope”
2. Bill Hybels’ “The Story of Seven Demotions”
3. Mike Woodruff’s “What Would Jesus Say When the Dow Drops 700 Points?”
‘A Strong Opinion’
December 16, 2008
More hilarity from The Sacred Sandwich:
Beliefnet interview with Rick Warren
December 15, 2008
Everyone seems to have an opinion about Rick Warren (even yours truly, for better or worse). Here’s a segment of an extensive interview Warren did recently with Steven Waldman, at Beliefnet, in which he discusses having doubts as a Christian.
The full interview (divided into chunks) is here.
Preaching interviews: Keller, Begg, Baucham
December 10, 2008
Colin Adams has brought out some of his own greatest hits/posts this week:
- Interview with Tim Keller
- Interview with Alistar Begg
- Interview with Voddie Baucham
Gobs of resources on sermon preparation
December 9, 2008
… courtesy of my personal friend (how privileged I am!), Colin Adams.
Weekend Walkabout: December 6, 2008
December 6, 2008
26 posts from the week that escaped mention (almost!):
- Afterlife in the Old Testament: The Scholarly Consensus? - Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth
- Bible Memorization Worksheet 2009 - Triablogue
- Converging the Web and Desktop - ChurchCrunch
- Different Isn’t Wrong … - Justin Wise
- Encouragement for Trans-Racial Adoption Anxiety - Vitamin Z
- Fox News Conservative? - Russell Moore
- Grand Duke Henri’s Last Stand - Rod Dreher
- Hate Your Enemy? - Greg Gilbert, Church Matters
- Innocent Suffering - DesiringGod blog
- J.K. Rowling’s Fairy Tales for Wizards (and Muggles) - Sherry Huang, Idol Chatter
- Korea - 1 Day Left - Let’s Start Right - Human3rror
- Lay Worship - The Sacred Sandwich
- My Two Cents #123 - Osama Bin Lego and other Islamic fare - Daniel G. two or three
- No Food, Drink or Levity Allowed in the Sanctuary - Motte Brown, Boundless
- Our Problem with the Old Testament - Justin Taylor
- Pithy Pre-pastorate Pastoral Pointers - Dan Phillips
- Quantum of Follies - Dayo Olopade, Culture11
- Russian Patriarch Dies - Susan Wunderink, Christianity Today liveblog
- Short Saturdays - Who needs our money? - Stuff Christians Like
- Things we should be doing - Amy Scott
- Ultimate 80’s Medley - Denny Burk
- Video of My Sermon on the Bible - Adrian Warnock
- Wanted: Kindness - Carla Rolfe
- 20 EXcellent Free Rich-Text Editors - Webdesigner Depot
- Yes, the terrorists targeted Jews - Daniel Pulliam, GetReligion
- Zacharius Ursinus - Theopedia article (Z’s are always hard to find … but it will be worth your while to learn something about Ursinus, a contemporary of Martin Luther)
T4G Bedlam
December 5, 2008
Tim Challies posts a hilarious explanation for the lack of activity some have noted on the Together for the Gospel blog:
“You probably knew this already, that after the Together for the Gospel conference wrapped up, all of the speakers went back to Al Mohler’s place to relax and play some Dungeons & Dragons …”
“How Should a Member Respond to a Divisive Elder?”
December 4, 2008
Thabiti Anyabile addresses a question brought to his attention:
“I am currently in a dialogue with an elder in my church who does not believe that traditional, ‘monologue-style’ preaching is the ‘preaching’ that is modeled and recommended in the New Testament. He believes that a conversation in which the Gospel is shared is a form of preaching. He also believes that preaching could simply be reading a book of the Bible, even possibly on Sunday mornings, without any additional explanation or application. … Do you have any recommendations as to how I could answer his points about expositional preaching?”
What if?
December 4, 2008
What if folks in the church really related as servants, according to Jesus’s teaching? Jan Lynn thinks our conversations might sound a little different:
“‘Pastor Mike is our serving teacher.’
‘The next two weeks we’ll focus on recruiting small group servants.’
‘Who’s the servant of that ministry?’
‘That’s Bill. He serves the Men’s ministry’ …”
Website or logo on a shoestring …
December 2, 2008
John at ChurchCrunch discusses “three design services that can get you a logo, design, or even creative web site quickly and cheaply.”
Reclaiming the Mind to open first local branch
December 2, 2008
… in Edmond, Oklahoma. Post here.
“Introducing CREDO - HOUSE OF THEOLOGY. Credo - House of Theology is a proposed new headquarters in Edmond Oklahoma that would not only facilitate our current ministry, but also allow us to take the ministry to the next level in so many ways without falling outside of our current monthly budget. Think ‘evangelical theological hub.’ Better, think of Francis Schaffer’s L’Abri Fellowship and you will catch some of the vision.”
Share ideas with others in ministry
December 1, 2008
… through a site called iDEA NATION. Cynthia Ware has the scoop:
“iDEA NATION is a social network designed to link believers together who have a passion for creating new innovative and creative strategies for ministry endeavor. iDEA NATION, built on Ning, is the brainchild of Josh Webb and is designed to be a space where ministry ideas are shared, explored, collaborated on, etc.”
Thanksgiving/Weekend Walkabout, Nov. 27, 2008
November 27, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving!
26 posts from the week that escaped mention (almost!):
Advent on your iPhone - Father Z
“Those of you who have an iPhone may want to know about a fun application for Advent for $0.99.”
The Blind Spot of the Spiritual Formation Movement - Craig Brian Larson
“Read books on spiritual formation and you will be hard pressed to find anyone who lists listening to the preaching of God’s Word as a first-order spiritual discipline.”
Check out free downloads from Christian music artist Josh Garrels - Joanne Brokaw
“Like other indie acts with a blatant faith message but an unconventional delivery … Garrels doesn’t quite fit the typical Christian music mold.”
The Day I Schmoozed - Amy Scott:
“Just tell her what she wants to hear.”
Evangelicals Adopting Advent - Cathy Lynn Grossman (HT: SharperIron)
“They’re giving a new, personalized spin to the prayers, candles and calendars to track the building excitement, and set a spiritual tone day by day.”
Faith and Politics - Doug Pagitt
“I was asked by the folks at Conservative Reformed Mafia blog to discuss my thoughts on faith and politics in light of my interest in running for the Minnesota State Legislature. I responded to questions with a video …”
Gordon Brown sells the nation’s soul to Satan - Cranmer
“As Gordon Brown has already sold the nation’s soul to the EU, all further treaties with the Devil are subject to EU scrutiny.”
Helpful Books on Justification - Mark Driscoll
It’s Time to Rethink the Issue of Homosexuality - Ken Silva
“Yes, you read that right; I do believe the time has come to rethink how we’re handling the issue of homosexuality in the Body of Christ. But maybe not like you think.”
The Jelly Bellies of Christendom - Prodigal Jon
“Super Sweaty Pastor – usually wrapped in a monogrammed handkerchief, these beans are slightly salty and super sticky from perspiration, taste like licking a Thompson Chain Reference and smell like a locker room”
Kids and Philanthropy: Teaching Your Children To Be Charitable - Beth Kanter
Logos360 Announced - The Wait Begins - ChurchCrunch
“It is, without question, simply a matter of time before we see what’ll it’ll really do to the digital landscape for Church Management Software.”
Meditations on Thanks and Giving - Carolyn McCulley
“As I prepare for Thanksgiving, one image is burned into my mind …”
National Geographic on Qeiyafa - Todd Bolen
“Much of the story reports what has been covered elsewhere, but there are some problems with the article.”
Of Crusaders and the West - Joshua Claybourn
“Our understanding of society and the individual certainly has its roots in the Crusaders.”
Proclamation Establishing Thanksgiving Day October 3, 1863 - Abe Lincoln/Worship.com
“In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict …”
Q 2009 - Greg Atkinson
“Q is a gathering where church leaders and cultural influencers from the fields of business, politics, media, education, entertainment and the arts are exposed to the future of culture and the church’s responsibility to advance the common good in society.”
Recessions Are Good? - Rob Moll
“Recessions, before the Great Depression, were often viewed as good things.”
Stand: A Call for the Endurance of the Saints (review) - Rebecca Writes
“I’ve reached the age where I think more and more about getting old, and I’ll let you in on a secret if you promise not to tell …”
Twilight (Book Review) - Tim Challies
“Admittedly, this is my first foray into fiction written for teen girls.”
An Unwanted Detour - Suzanne Hadley:
“A week later I sat in a doctor’s office trying to hold back tears.”
Video Interviews with John Lennox - Justin Taylor
“Creator or the Multiverse?”
What is the Church Year? - Mark Daniels
“The Church Year is a human invention. Observing it won’t make us better than anybody else. Nor does keeping it ’save’ a person from sin and death. But …”
50 eXcellent Blog Footer Designs - Hongkiat.com (sorry, had to reach for this one)
“In the eye of a visitor, the footer is perhaps one of the most unnoticeable section but to a designer who knows how important user experience, navigation and designs, they are treated the same.”
You May Be a Hyper-Calvinist If … - Phil Johnson
“Within the militantly Arminian sector of the Southern Baptist Convention, it seems there are still those who insist that ‘by the definition of Phil Johnson,’ James White is a hyper-Calvinist …”
Zane Hodges (1933–2008) - Dan Wallace (I mentioned Hodges’ passing, but it means much more coming from an accomplished Greek scholar):
“Zane taught Greek and New Testament courses at Dallas Seminary from 1960 to 1987. I took him for more courses than from any other NT prof, and learned a great deal from him. His skills with the Greek text were breathtaking. I never knew a professor who could sight-read as well as Hodges (except for Johnson). And he thought through his positions well. I didn’t agree with him on everything; in fact, I would say that I disagreed with him on most of his positions. I was always a bit nervous coming into his class because I wasn’t sure what he would say that hour that might rock my world. But I enjoyed immensely how he structured the courses, how he argued his positions, and how charismatic he was in the classroom. He was a superb preacher and very persuasive. His electives always had the highest enrollment by far of any NT electives at DTS. … Zane Hodges will be dearly missed. But he now knows the joys of his Savior and is finally home.”
