Midweek sampler
I've been saving some of these and tonight I'm finally getting to post them. Some are serious; others not so much. You decide.....
Contemporvant? This video says it all about some churches that call themselves contemporary. I'm way too "chronologically gifted" to have a toe ring, an ear ring, highlighted hair (nature's taking care of that but it's not a color I'd choose), sandals, graphic tees (another thing nature has taken care of) or other stuff. I spent enough time in the Marines to know getting a tattoo is kind of stupid and everyone I know eventually regrets it. By my own self-assessment I'm still on the cool side of "curmudgeon" and I love well done contemporary Christian music ("CCM"). I also love the theology of the old hymns. Our church does contemporary arrangements of at least one almost every week and I love it. Still, much of what passes for "relevant" or "hip" among today's churches is, well.... it shows about as much judgment as someone who doesn't know which end points down range. Hope you find the video as amusing as I did.
New blood @ Baylor. Julia Duin is the best religion reporter around - you already know that if you check this space very often. She is nearly as likely to infuriate me as she is to inform me. Still, her regular contributions to the Washington Times always contribute significant information about events in the world that matter. This report as well as the next couple are examples of things she picked up that others (like Sally Quinn in the Washington (com) Post completely missed. Back in the day - right after the earth's crust cooled to hear some of my co-workers tell it - I read Battle for the Bible and the battle still that book described still rages in many places. Kenn Starr needs your prayers for the battle he's stepping into - I hope he has the discernment and intestinal fortitude to see through the fog of that particular war and hold firm to the doctrinal things that really matter.
Why China scares me. This is another Julia Duin blog that reports things others missed - forced sterilization of some 10,000 people. The only word that I can think of is horrific - and the story was missed by the self important media here in the US.
A reminder. Last night we bumped into a woman who was my assistant over 10 years ago when I was a singles pastor. (A hint: she's one of the friends on my Facebook page) It reminded us of some very good ministry that we did together. One of the good things we started was "Sister Act", a ministry with single moms designed to give them a strong support network and practical encouragement. Julia Duin wrote about the paucity of this kind of ministry during the run up to Mother's Day. Unfortunately Julia is right about the huge "hole" that most churches have regarding ministry in this area.
Not baby's first steps. If you work on a "cube farm" then this will either frighten you or make you laugh - depending on what kind of day you have just experienced.
Contemporvant? This video says it all about some churches that call themselves contemporary. I'm way too "chronologically gifted" to have a toe ring, an ear ring, highlighted hair (nature's taking care of that but it's not a color I'd choose), sandals, graphic tees (another thing nature has taken care of) or other stuff. I spent enough time in the Marines to know getting a tattoo is kind of stupid and everyone I know eventually regrets it. By my own self-assessment I'm still on the cool side of "curmudgeon" and I love well done contemporary Christian music ("CCM"). I also love the theology of the old hymns. Our church does contemporary arrangements of at least one almost every week and I love it. Still, much of what passes for "relevant" or "hip" among today's churches is, well.... it shows about as much judgment as someone who doesn't know which end points down range. Hope you find the video as amusing as I did.
New blood @ Baylor. Julia Duin is the best religion reporter around - you already know that if you check this space very often. She is nearly as likely to infuriate me as she is to inform me. Still, her regular contributions to the Washington Times always contribute significant information about events in the world that matter. This report as well as the next couple are examples of things she picked up that others (like Sally Quinn in the Washington (com) Post completely missed. Back in the day - right after the earth's crust cooled to hear some of my co-workers tell it - I read Battle for the Bible and the battle still that book described still rages in many places. Kenn Starr needs your prayers for the battle he's stepping into - I hope he has the discernment and intestinal fortitude to see through the fog of that particular war and hold firm to the doctrinal things that really matter.
Why China scares me. This is another Julia Duin blog that reports things others missed - forced sterilization of some 10,000 people. The only word that I can think of is horrific - and the story was missed by the self important media here in the US.
A reminder. Last night we bumped into a woman who was my assistant over 10 years ago when I was a singles pastor. (A hint: she's one of the friends on my Facebook page) It reminded us of some very good ministry that we did together. One of the good things we started was "Sister Act", a ministry with single moms designed to give them a strong support network and practical encouragement. Julia Duin wrote about the paucity of this kind of ministry during the run up to Mother's Day. Unfortunately Julia is right about the huge "hole" that most churches have regarding ministry in this area.
Not baby's first steps. If you work on a "cube farm" then this will either frighten you or make you laugh - depending on what kind of day you have just experienced.
Alan -- Thanks for the blog item. I especially appreciate that in your opening statement: "Contemporvant? This video says it all about some churches that call themselves contemporary," you are stating through the "some" modifier that not all "contemporary" churches are the same. How true -- just as all Baptist churches are not the same. I've been to Baptist churches, and I know from your previous blogs that you have too, that do anything but honor Christ Jesus. There is certainly danger in lumping all churches of whatever strip into one generic bucket. Names and generalizations can be terribly misleading. With churches it is all about how God is able to use His people in the basic mission of the church, the "Go ye therefore..." commission. Again, thanks for your insightful postings. They're always a delight.
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