Are You a God Pleaser…? (Part 1)
Do you ever watch television shows like “American Idol?” What about shows like “The Great Race” or “Survivor?” Personally, I’m tired of all these “reality” shows where you have to make deals with people so you can eventually rip them off, take the money and run. I’m also weary of watching untalented people who think
Principles Are the Bottom Line (Part 3)
(As found on Christianity Today) Discerning believers can detect the note of authority in the life of a worker who is himself under authority, and they are not afraid to follow him. It is unfortunate that the “corporation concept” of leadership has taken over in many Christian organizations, including churches. Jesus had this to say
Second Chances
Over the past few years, I have developed a friendship with an amazing man named Franco Antonetti. Franco’s incredible journey of survival is documented in his book I Wouldn’t Die. From the time he was born in Rome, Italy in 1944, Franco faced death’s door more than anyone I’ve ever known who lived to tell
Results That Demand Revival
In the March/ April issue of FACTS & TRENDS published by LifeWay Christian Resources, there was an excellent article on closing the back door written by Brad Waggoner of LifeWay Research. All of us know that the overwhelming majority of our churches are plateaued or declining. Status quo seems to be the norm. Baptisms are stagnant,
Principles Are the Bottom Line (Part 2)
(As found on Christianity Today) The Greek words translated as “ministry” in the New Testament describe some kind of service. In the early church the minister was a servant, not simply an officer. This concept was a novelty to the Greeks and Romans, who considered a servant to be an unimportant nobody who did things
I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar
The National Organization of Women seems to be roaring with great concern. They are concerned about the Opt-Out Moms. This is not group of fascist terrorist women, though I get the impression that NOW would actually defend their participation in terror for the sake of equality. No, when you go to the NOW website you
Augustine’s Process for Receiving New Members
The ancient church had no “membership” like modern denominations have, but it did have a process of taking candidates into the church, and members in the church and catechumens knew who was who. It may be helpful to outline the process for a person to become a fully functioning “member” of the church at Augustine’s
Praying for the Lost
Written by: Manley Beasley Praying for the lost is an area about which much is said but little is known or understood. In order to fully realize the biblical concept we must first have at least a basic knowledge of what real prayer itself involves. First of all, prayer is three-dimensional in its effect. Not
Principles Are the Bottom Line (Part 1)
(As found on Christianity Today) About the only thing I remember from one of my courses at seminary is a bit of doggerel that the weary professor dropped into a boring lecture: Methods are many, Principles are few. Methods always change, Principles never do. As soon as I returned to my dormitory room I looked
My Students: The Coming Wave in the Church
I get to spend my day-to-day life with the next generation coming along in the church. I see everyday hints at what the church might become in the future. I have my ideas about what they’ll do in and to the church, but I’m not sharing that here. Instead I’ll just list 25 prominent characteristics
This Should Come As No Surprise
An article in USA TODAY, Thursday, March 8, 2007, says “Americans get ‘F’ in religion.” According to Cathy Lynn Grossman, “Sixty percent of Americans can’t name five of the Ten Commandments, and 50% of high school seniors think Sodom and Gomorrah were married.” Okay, let’s start there. We can’t name five of the Ten Commandments
Psalms 11-12
Want to Run Away?Psalm 11 Have you ever felt like running away? Then Psalm 11 is what you need. “In the Lord I put my trust; how can you say to my soul,’Flee as a bird to your mountain’?” (v. 1). When you feel like flying away and leaving it all, this is the psalm