May 18th, 2009
9 comments »
In cooperation with some publishers, individual authors and speakers, I am conducting a series of interviews to be posted here on More Than Cake–and I want your input.
More and more Christians are getting their spiritual guidance from internet resources. In our diverse culture, there are many misleading voices which claim the name of Jesus, yet offer a deceptive Gospel. The mission of this interview series is to engage the on-line generation in an intergenerational dialogue to help discern the Gospel of Jesus Christ and its application to our modern world.
So here are my questions to you.
If you could sit down for coffee and receive “wise counsel” from any one author, writer, speaker, pastor, leader, etc… who would it be?
Regarding the Christian faith, culture, politics, philosophy, social issues, etc… what questions would you ask him or her?
Please leave your answers in a comment here on my blog, on Facebook, or email me directly.
May 15th, 2009
No comments »
All too often, prayer is limited to private rumination and the internal groaning of the soul. The church in the West must rediscover both the power of praying the Scriptures and the power of praying in community.
Seven years ago I wrote a 6 week series teaching the disciplines of communal prayer. I am so excited because just today I received my proof copies of both the Leader Guide and the Student Journal.
The series is titled, “Praying in Community: Giving Voice to the Heart of Our Father”
The first half of each lesson teaches one of six disciplines;
- The Prayer of Jesus
- The Prayer of Brokenness
- The Prayer of Evangelism
- The Prayer of Healing
- The Prayer of Intercession
- The Prayer of Persistence
The second half of each lesson is an opportunity to move beyond talking about prayer and actually engaging in communal prayer.
Here is a photo of my cover design.
and a pic of one of the study pages.
The materials will be available from Amazon.com in the next few weeks. I will announce the release here and add the books to my on-line store at www.EmergingLife.org. I hope you will consider buying copies for your small group, Sunday School class, youth group, or house church and discover together the power of Praying in Community!
May 7th, 2009
No comments »
Lately I have been meditating on the words of this poem written by the Calvinist turned Roman Catholic, Frederick William Faber, 1862.
If you have ever suffered under the teaching that the American form of Liberty is the greatest form of good; then this poem is for you.
If you have ever struggled with pain and believed that this life was all there is; then this poem is for you.
If you have ever been disappointed in God, thinking your mind has reached the limits of God; then this poem is for you.
There’s a wideness in God’s mercy
like the wideness of the sea;
there’s a kindness in his justice,
which is more than liberty.
There is welcome for the sinner,
and more graces for the good;
there is mercy with the Savior;
there is healing in his blood.
There is no place where earth’s sorrows
are more felt than in heaven;
there is no place where earth’s failings
have such kind judgment given.
There is plentiful redemption
in the blood that has been shed;
there is joy for all the members
in the sorrows of the Head.
For the love of God is broader
than the measure of man’s mind;
and the heart of the Eternal
is most wonderfully kind.
If our love were but more faithful,
we should take him at his word;
and our life would be thanksgiving
for the goodness of the Lord.
May 5th, 2009
2 comments »
My last poll asking your opinion on my resemblance to actor Jason Lee was al in fun. Now for something a bit more serious. I found the following Pew Research on American Religion and Torture very interesting.
A Pew Research Center for the People & the Press survey released last week found that those who attend weekly church services are more likely than those who rarely or never attend services to say the use of torture on suspected terrorists is justifiable.
Here is the specific stat that I want to ask about.
The poll found that fifty-four percent of those who attend weekly services say the use of torture on terror suspects in order to gain important information can “often” or “sometimes” be justified. That’s twelve percent higher than the 42 percent of those who seldom or never attend such services who say the same.
- Do you think this survey is flawed or is it an accurate reflection of American church-goers?
- If accurate, does this statistic reflect a positive or negative aspect of American church-goers? Why or why not?
- The assumption built into the poll is that church attendance influences people to support torture. Is this an accurate assumption?
- If you answer yes, then what specific aspect of American-Christian theology has been the influence behind this statistic?
- If you said no, why do you think a larger percentage of regular church attenders support torture in comparison to those who are not regular attenders?
- Church attendance does not guarantee a genuine Faith in Jesus. Do you think the support of torture reflects a genuine biblical teaching or does it reflect a religious distortion of the Scripture?
In cooperation with some publishers, individual authors and speakers, I am conducting a series of interviews to be posted here on More Than Cake–and I want your input. 
Regarding 
Regarding 
Regarding 
Regarding 
Regarding 
