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Essence
Imagine you live in a small town in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey). It’s the First Century and you part of a small group following the teachings of Jesus. What would essential for you as a group? What would be essence of what you believe?
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Age Segregated Worship = Racially Segregated Worship?
I found this blog post refreshing. How about you? In a day where we try to find “relevance” we are losing solid grounding through the generations. I like what Coral Ridge is doing.
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Revisiting the Reformation
Christianity Today is running a series of articles from world evangelical leaders on their views of what is needed in the 21st Century. Rene Padilla’s column focused on a return to first principles, especially as it regards the first Lausanne Conference. Padilla’s opening line: A key problem of evangelical churches worldwide is the unilateral emphasis on numerical growth. For the…
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The Mosque, The Church, and the Koran
I realize I’m a “Johnny-come-lately” on much of this, mainly because much of it arose while I was on sabbatical and wasn’t blogging. Part of it comes from my desire to process things a little first before reacting. Much has been made of the “Ground Zero Mosque” that is moving forward. It is a mosque that is very close to…
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Intentional, Confessional… Pentecostal
Is that even “legal?” 😉 Intentional. Pentecostals are known more for spontaneity than intentionality in worship. If it’s planned these days, it’s more pragmatism than thoughtful worship. What I seek is intentional worship. Careful attention to the songs we sing, the Scripture we read, the education we give our children… all of it. As a Pentecostal pastor I am also…
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The Gospel of Wealth
David Brooks is the like the Babe Ruth of columnists for me. Every time I see his column is like seeing Babe Ruth come to bat. You just wait to see him hit it out of the park. This column on “The Gospel of Wealth” is powerful. I remember reading a short excerpt from David Platt’s book when the publisher…
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Back to Work
My sabbatical is finished and today is my first Sunday back preaching. Of course, it’s Labor Day weekend and no one will be there… which could help because after 5 weeks off I’m not sure how this will go! The time away was needed. I was certainly more tired than I thought and the rest was helpful. As I come…
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Dead and Not Knowing It
There is a movie called “Frequency” that deals a little with communicating over a 30 year barrier. A son communicates with his father over an old ham radio, but the father had died as firefighter 30 years before. The son saves the dad’s life, but then endangers his mother because of a serial killer. (It’s a long story, so hopefully…
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Two Books Evangelicals and Pentecostals MUST Read
Liturgical Theology, by Simon Chan. Desiring the Kingdom, by James K.A. Smith. No links. I’m not making money. These books are powerful and needed.
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Our Allegiance
I am patriotic as anyone. I still cry when they play, “God Bless the USA” at a ballgame. The question of allegiance is interesting, though. This post by Michael Gorman again raises the issue of our Christianity and our allegiances. Just a question: Do you pledge allegiance to the flag? Is it a civil religion that clashes with our allegiance…
Category: Church Life
